Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. There are literally trillions to connect with, and many are just waiting for YOU to reach out. In Christianity this single ruler is called Satan, among other names. Genealogy research comes with many challenges, especially with regard to researching certain subsets of our ancestors. Most of the mainline churches are well aware of this need and that the current teachings are not fully adequate in assisting them to deal with witchcraft and the fear it brings. Ela indicates that the offerings for the ancestors are “signs of respect”, “symbols of the continuity of family”, and “simply a command of the love of children” towards parents. Maghbouleh (2007;349) makes an interesting observation that witchcraft is nowhere associated with the devil or Satan in the canonized Jewish texts. In the African traditional religions, ancestors were never considered demonic or as part of evil spirits (2007;383). There are references in the Bible that prohibit the contacting of the dead (Dt 18:11). Their views of the spirit-world is contrasted in many aspects against the New Testament teachings. In the Bible, there is near total absence of reference of interventions by the dead in the affairs of the living. Witchcraft is the enemy of life (2007;347). This left the African people with the idea that God could not handle the hostile spirits that attacked people on a daily basis. Whether it be a political, religious or intellectual structure. Khatide (2007;336) is of the opinion that although most Africans prefer the usage of “veneration”, to “worship”, when it comes to ancestral belief, there are still practices that may tilt the argument to worship. This session is designed to help participants learn African traditional ways of understanding mental/emotional challenges and how this approach can be used as the foundation of treatment in working with people of African ancestry. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. As keepers of law and order, the ancestors act as representatives of ethical values, traditions and activities (2007;333). Anderson (2007;326) correctly observes that one of the functions of a diviner is to determine the identity of, and exorcise ‘evil spirits’. The Freedom Series.. Such thinking was to be expected from people (missionaries) who had been born and bred in a world-view that sought to explain life in rationalistic and scientific ways rather than spiritual ones. The missionaries were met with a “split-level” or “dual system” response. It is clear that the tendency in some churches is to incorporate the ancestral belief in the doctrine of the Communion of Saints (2007;337). Ancestor worship is found in many cultures all across the world. Missionaries coming out of such a world-view, who brought the gospel to Africa, preached a message that left Africans with a perception that the God of the Bible could not supply them in all their spiritual needs. In Ela’s opinion, these offerings are “only an ‘anthropological reality” and not related to religion at all. Look to these ancestor photographs to learn about family history, reminisce about times gone by and find inspiration to follow in their footsteps. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Our Ancestral spirits. In return, the ancestors reveal themselves through dreams by stating their names or through calamity, sickness, barrenness or bad luck, and so forth. The Lord is there and we should call upon him (Jer 33:3): “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”. Christianity is lived to either strengthen groups’ identity with the ancestors or free self from any attachment with the ancestors depending on two main factors. We extract your DNA and compare it against the world’s largest database of African DNA. This gift is of absolute necessity to the body of Christ because it helps to keep the truth and avoid the destructive lies of evil. Ancestors play a significant role in the day to day live in African society. Registered office: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ. Witchcraft is described as the human embodiment of evil (2007;344), and the witch takes the place of the devil. In Col. 2:14 – 15 it is written: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them in it.”. Book An African Ancestry Family Reunion To Africa Today. The living communicate with the dead by regular ritual sacrifice and invocation, the priest or officiant at which is the family head, or the senior group representative where ancestors of larger groups are being addressed (2007;332). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UKEssays.com. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.” (verses 29-33). Good angels are portrayed as powerful agencies for the carrying out of God’s will, there is also a well orchestrated army of evil agencies who counterfeit the activities of those good angels (1999;69). I want to write very briefly here about the various kinds of spirits that can be part of a shamanic calling and become your guides or possess you as you do the work of the ancestors. It’s possible with the use of medical DNA tests to reveal links to ancestors, much like it is used today to relate relatives. Christians who decide to stay within the mainline churches, especially where ministries of healing, deliverance and exorcism are lacking, tend to lead a “split-level” Christianity (a dual life). Another common thing would be rice terracing, a brilliant way for our ancestors to respond to the challenge of their environment. Find those missing pieces of your identity with this transformative and powerful experience. God is not distant like some would believe. Ancestors may also manifest themselves to the living by animals, particularly snakes (1999;75). In I Corinthians 10 we learn that idolatry is the same as devil-worship, and one should therefore be careful not to make ancestors bigger than they are: “What say I then? Share this: Tweet; More; The Middle and Later Stone Age, which lasted from about 300 000 to 300 years ago in South Africa, was an important time for the African continent. The evangelical movement in Africa declared Christ’s sovereign rule over the spirits, but prefers to say little about the spirit world and concentrating rather on the salvation of the individual’s soul. The desire of an ancestor to possess someone is usually signalled by a long illness, with the host beginning to grow delicate and eccentric, dreaming numerous dreams about wild beasts and serpents and also hearing voices telling the person what to do and where to go. The role of ancestors are basically protective, corrective and aimed at the welfare of the family (2007;333). This is Civil Rights Genealogy to honor our African American ancestors. The hope was that the experience will be a “cure-all” for all other problems (2007;371). The ancestor is expected to must have lived a morally worthy life, a virtuous life. He goes so far as to say that it is the demons which masquerade as ancestors. We are now in a new family, a godly family with a heavenly Father. The calling to be a Sangoma or shaman is believed to come from various ancestor spirits and your direct ancestor spirits. A part of the cause of this is the inadequate western presentation of the gospel in the African context (2007;341). I give praise to the universe I give praise to mother earth I give praise to all of nature and its beings I give praise to all my guiding spirits I give praise to my ancestors I give praise to all that came before me in this struggle I give praise to my elders I give praise to all those who have cared for me, protected me, guided me and loved me I give praise to…. Our only true mediator is the Eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ. Some scholars think that it is more of veneration than worship, because the issue at stake, example with the Oruuano Movement, is not worship but veneration because “the ancestors are not gods and they never become gods.” (2007;335). So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Act 19:18-20). But God is almighty and limits evil and their activities (2007;379). The belief remains that there is an interaction between the invisible and visible worlds (2007;377). An ancestor is also someone who is remote or distant. African Ancestry was founded in 2003 by Dr. Rick Kittles and Gina Paige in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kittles was one of the earliest geneticists to trace the ancestry of Africans through DNA testing. As Africans are generally community-oriented people, it is understandable that the relationship between the living and the dead is appreciated and if at all possible maintained (2007;329). Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. “Many African societies divide humans into three categories: those still alive on the earth, the sasha, and the zamani. Our researchers have also excluded those with more than 5 percent African ancestry with the assumption that it’s more likely that their ancestry is known. Knowing where you're from is a critical component of knowing who you are. When the missionaries came to Africa they displayed a spirit-world denying attitude to their audience. Voice of Our African ancestors, The Bronx. It also means reaching out to those in the distant past – to the ancients. Exorcism in the New Testament context is the act of deliverance of a person or institution or society from its bondage to evil. Two million years ago, various hominid ancestors of modern humans migrated out of Africa. Looking for a flexible role? There is a view that states that ancestors are demonic manifestations meant to derail the faithful (2007;383). Therefore the ancestors acted as a supportive and protective network (1999;75). The practice of witchcraft have existed among African Christians because of their spiritual needs. The reincarnation of the ancestors in newborn babies is foreign to most of the peoples of Southern Africa. But make no mistake: we may not know the day-to-day eating habits of our ancestors, but we know some things. One of the abilities or gifts of the Holy Spirit is to discern or see the activity of spirits in the unseen realm (1999;82). It is through God and the strength that he provides that we can face the “waters and fires” of this life, and be fully prepared for every good work. People who die a premature death cannot be categorised as ancestors (2007;330). The vast majority of Americans of African ancestry in the United States are descendants of the 400,000 enslaved Black people forcibly brought to the New World prior to 1860. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? In the Bible God’s angels are depicted as creatures, holy and uncorrupted spirits with a free will, and therefore not necessarily impervious to temptation and sin (1999;68). From time immemorial, the Zulus have always held a strong belief that the closest human link the living have with God, uMvelinqangi is through the connection they have with amadlozi, a Zulu term for ancestors. Religion The book of Revelation is notable for its presentation of the absolute power which God exercises over the world and restriction of evil (1999;72). The missionaries left no room for supernatural realities such as earthly spirits and spirit possession, witchcraft, ancestors and magic. We then determine your present-day country and ethnic group (tribe) of origin in Africa. It is clearly pointed out that the only valid mediator is Jesus Christ: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Joh 14:6). God is concerned with all aspects of salvation (Luke 5:23), not just with the spiritual. 4.8K likes. For the church there is a general feeling that the people have not been sufficiently armed to fight against witchcraft and sorcery in spite of many Christian teaching that have been thought (2007;351). The rational behind this is that the good use of magic will counteract the evil use thereof, if the user’s medicine is more powerful than that of the enemy. Until now, the oldest evidence of human ancestors outside of Africa was in Dmanisi, Georgia. Once such group is women. But, having stated this, it should also be mentioned that a survey of the New Testament reveals references to uncanny powers and magical arts that are condemnatory, and link such activities with the devil. One of the main reasons why ancestor practices play such a prominent role in African religions is because Africa languishes under the yoke of the fear of spirits. Satan is the evil one which represents the embodiment of antithesis to the will and purpose of God (1999;71). Free Standard Shipping for … Reference this. The tendency in South Africa is ancestors pass to linear time (2007;330). Spirit possession by the living-dead is commonly reported. Triebel argues that (2007;336), “if one interprets African religion as theistic, centered on the belief in the one God, one cannot accept that the ancestors have their own independent religious function”. The relation of the living people to their living dead has been described by scholars in various ways. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! These were ridiculed as fairy tales and belief in these was labelled as barbaric and primitive (2007;372). The belief in missionaries was that the converts to Christianity, after attaining some (western-based) education and religious instruction, would simply outgrow the idea of the existence of the spirit world, but this endeavour did not fully realize under the people for the past two centuries (2007;370). Our Black Ancestry Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources for African American genealogical research, preserving historic materials and properties, and promoting healing of wounds that are the legacy of slavery. Had a proper theological dialogue taken place between the missionaries and the people, undoubtedly the African Christian church scenario would have been different (1999;77). The general belief is that ancestors are nearer to God and have mystical powers (2007;333). Having passed through death, the ancestors are considered as able to communicate with God more effectively the needs of those alive. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! Ancestors are forever alive in the African world and cosmological view of life. On our People on the Move show, we heard about science challenging our understanding of when our earliest ancestors moved out of the African continent.. Mathew - This traditional idea of this exodus out of Africa at around 50,000 years ago, isn't entirely correct. In these religions there is also the concept of a God, or Supreme Being, although it cannot be proved conclusively in all cases. In Africa, witchcraft is considered as anti-social and as something that systematically contradicts all the values of society. You can view samples of our professional work here. A great truth of God’s providence is found in Php 4: 6-9: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. How Our African Ancestors Made Sound In The Stone Age. People resort to diviners and healers to supply them with protective objects against witch attacks (2007;350). But the accepted norm is that the ancestors use dreams to communicate with the living. Another reason why ancestor practices are common is to endure the hardship of life and to intellectually cope with existential crises and the frustrations that confound them. All work is written to order. Browse our resources Discover your African American Ancestry. In other cultural contexts, some people seek providence from their deceased ancestors; this practice is sometimes known as ancestor worship or, more accurately, ancestor veneration. We will also look at reasons behind the strong presence of ancestor practices within Africa. Join Face2Face Africa as we take a look at some breath taking traditional wears from tribes all over the African continent. African theologians and churches are still struggling how to respond appropriately and biblically to the issue of ancestral practices, especially among Christians (2007;337). Although African scholars have done some work of the highest of quality in terms of the concept of God in Africa, not much research has gone into other spiritual entities and realities of the African people. Exercising discernment, is an act of the will and an act of faith. Researching female ancestors is challenging, but possible! In this essay we will focus solely on this “type” of ancestor group. Ancestors’ spirits are also thought to act as mediators between the living and the Creator. Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. This link is deeply spiritual, and helps to explain the Zulu people’s attitudes to ideas of fertility, life, fortune and misfortune as well as their general quest for a life lived purposefully and with integrity. There are similarities in the spirit world between the first-century New Testament communities and those of Africa, which makes possible some form of dialogue and a background for study (2007;377). In Africa, the world was believed to be inhabited by beings both visible and invisible. The Nigerian theologian, Idowu, states (2007;335): “Certainly, the cults of the ancestors do not constitute African traditional religion; and it is a gross error to equate them with religion … Thus the cults are a means of communion and communication between those who are living on earth and those who have gone to live in the spirit world of the ancestors”. 1 year ago 5 min read. Given the range of skills and aptitudes available to Christians as found in the Bible, this type of life need not be (2007;352). See more ideas about gods and goddesses, african, orisha. In Acts we have the account of salvation and the burning of evil books in public: “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Dr. Kambon is a licensed psychologist as well as an initiated traditional African priestess. Aug 31, 2020 - See the faces of the people of America’s past. Ancestral worship is a two-way relationship, in contrast to the cult of the dead which is one-way (2007;328). In the African religions there is also those who are called divinities who play the role of mediators between ancestors and the living. The cleansing of the Temple by Jesus is an example of collective exorcism. God has provided ways of dealing with evil spirits. This is not an example of the work produced by our Essay Writing Service. During this period humans developed … Among the visible beings were humans, animals and plants. 1st Jan 1970 In fact, the authorities and cosmic powers in the Pauline letters allude to the way in which supernatural beings, as it were, incarnate themselves in structures. The Zulus believed that the Supreme Being was in a sense unreachable, so that there was a need for ancestral mediation (1999;73). It is believed that a person who is sick for a long time has been chosen as an instrument through which ancestors want to communicate. A review of Jesus as “Honored Ancestor”, by Martin Munyao . 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