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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | A Comparative Study of Worship in African Religion, Islam and Christianity: The Nigerian Experience |
Author: | Dopamu, P.A. |
Year: | 1989 |
Periodical: | Bulletin on Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa |
Volume: | 7 |
Issue: | 4 |
Period: | October |
Pages: | 11-34 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Nigeria |
Subjects: | Christianity Islam African religions Religion and Witchcraft Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) |
Abstract: | This paper examines worship within the context of the three major religious traditions in Nigeria: African religion, Islam and Christianity. All three traditions recognize God as the focus and centre of religion but the manner of reaching Him is divergent. African religion differs from Islam and some forms of Christian tradition in its recognition of intermediaries who may be divinities, spirits, or ancestors. Despite the place of the divinities as intermediaries, African religion also believes in worshipping God directly, as distinct from Christianity. A further comparison between the three religions is made in terms of private and public worship, conditions of worship (purification), religious functionaries, singing and dancing, and prayer. The author concludes that African religion, Islam and Christianity have many things in common within the context of worship, but there are dissimilarities in certain aspects of their practices, notably the use of intermediaries, functionaries, songs, drums, symbols, and places of worship. Notes, ref. |