O level Notes : FRS - Religion, Family and Identity - Indigenous Religion andAfrican Identity

INDIGENOUS RELIGION AND AFRICAN IDENTITY

So society fulfils not only our physical needs but also determines our mental conditions. A society thrives best when it is composed of men and women who are intelligent, hardworking, honest and dutiful. An ideal society is one which gives opportunity to every individual to grow physically, intellectually and morally. Indigenous religion plays a numerous and a significant role in fostering African identity.

How Indigenous Religion fostersAfrican identity a) Effect of Selfishness on Society

Selfishness is the root of all trouble in the world. Some amount of selfishness is natural, but when excessive, it becomes dangerous. The necessity for a state to frame laws and devise a mechanism to enforce those laws arises because of this selfishness. In IR, people are taught communalism, that is, they regard their property as belonging to the whole community. They share ploughs, cattle for milking and even for ploughing the fields. Sharing is encouraged and selfishness discouraged. To be African means able to share. So it is the duty of elders of the society to ensure that selfishness is taken rid of.

1. b) Society, morality and ethics

Man is basically human because he has a kind heart. He has intelligence, so he is rational. This rational human being draws ethics for the welfare of the humanity. Furthermore, having been born as human, IR teaches its adherents to be ethical, what is good and bad; right and wrong is taught. Those who fail to abide by the ethics of the society face punishment, for example, incest is a taboo in an African setup and those who practise it will be banished or pay a fine. By doing this, IR will be fostering the African identity in a person. Also, what is forbidden by the society must not be seen being done by someone. The community at large will make sure the person is dealt with.

1. c) Tolerance and harmony

The only way to worship an infinite God is not to take a copyright on him. The correct approach is to accept and respect the spiritual experiences of other religions also. That attitude alone can make one not only to tolerate other religions but also to accept them with reverence. IR is the only religion which believes and accepts that other religions are in existence. IR also allows its adherents to seek assistance from another religion, for example, adherents of IR can be a believer at the same time being a Christian and IR does not have a problem with that. This shows that IR is tolerant and wants to live in harmony. By exposing and allowing its adherents to other religions, it means the concept of African identity is being fostered.

1. d) Discipline: Individual and Collective

Because of modernity, discipline these days is rarely practiced. One reason is that man has suddenly become conscious of his power. There was a time when people depended upon each other. Men and women have become ego-centric they live for themselves only. IR preaches individual discipline and collective discipline. Collective discipline reflects collective will. Discipline is the outcome of a long process of self-negation, sacrificing one's own interest for the sake of others.

An ideal society allows the maximum freedom to an individual, while giving him or her every possible opportunity to grow. It protects the weak and defenseless and ensures justice and equality. It expects every individual to grow not only materially but also morally. The highest good of him is the good of all. His concern is for all especially the weak and helpless. IR makes sure that those who are undisciplined are taught lessons because it is believed that they will corrupt or poison others. Being African is having discipline and that is the reason why IR goes an extra mile in fosteringAfrican identity to all its members.

Here is what we discussed in this topic

Religion, schools and universities, media, family, leadership or politics, technology, and music are agents of cultural change. These have played a major role in changing the lifestyle and values of people in different societies. Cultural change has affected the nature of the family. Children nowadays tend to be independent, egocentric and the family is more stratified. Obedience and respect for elders is fading away. Too much focus on human rights, forgetting responsibility is affecting the nature of the family. African culture has been diluted and the chances of going back to the golden days are slim.  The family plays a major role in promoting values in their children. It is the parents' responsibilities to help their children to develop the sense of knowing between right and wrong. It is the family which inculcates values through its various strategies and teaches children about social values. Religion also as an agent of cultural change plays a major role in fostering African identity. Religion inculcates national values among citizens.

Definition terms used in this topic

Acculturation - a process by which the culture of an isolated society changes on contact with a different one.

Agent – one who or something which acts on behalf of, or in the place of another.

Cultural change- is the change in life style, customs, beliefs and values of a particular society or nation.

Correlate-is to have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one thing affects or depends on another.

Egocentric - being selfish or self-centered.

Enculturation - the process by which an individual adopts the behaviour patterns of the culture in which he or she is immersed.

Fostering- encouraging, teaching or nurturing a person into an accepted member of the society.

Imbibed-to absorb or assimilate knowledge.