The Roman ruler at the time, Pontius Pilate, didn't believe that Jesus had committed any serious crimes, but a large crowd of people demanded that he be crucified. Africa is one of the largest and most populous continents in the world, as well as the birthplace of humanity. The spread of Islam. A white dove symbolizes peace and love, both Christian principles. The development and spread of Islamic cultures. Some religious scholars believe that Christianity was introduced to Africans by … They say that God combines three persons in one. The spread of Christianity throughout Egypt and Northern Africa, during the first five centuries was rapid and intense, despite the prevalence of false teachings, persecutions and martyrdom. “Christianity was a double-edged sword [for African-Americans],” says Dr. Lawrence H. Mamiya, Professor of Religion and Africana Studies at Vassar … Aksum’s geographic location, at the southernmost edge of the Hellenized Near East, was critical to its conversion and development. In the early days there was a lot of opposition to Christianity, especially from the Roman emperors. He chose 12 men to be his travelling companions to help him in his mission. One day Jesus visited Jerusalem and he was welcomed like a king by the people. Roman life in North Africa was heavily concentrated around urban centers—by the end of the second century, there was upwards of six million people living in Roman North African provinces, a third of those living in the 500 or so cities and towns which had developed. Christians believe that the son of God Jesus Christ, came to earth to guide his people back to God. Time will tell whether Christian values will continue to have more influence in Africa. By the end of the 2nd century it had reached the region around Carthage.In the 4th century, the Aksumite empire in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia became one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity as an official religion and the Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia followed two centuries later. Part 3 Christianity in South Africa sub-cultures: all-male christianity in gold-mine compounds, Tshidiso Maloka-- Women's christian organisations, Deborah Gaiskell-- Conversion, slavery and gender in urban western Cape, Robert C.H. Christianity and Colonialism in South Africa. In the first millennium, Christianity spread east from Palestine to Iraq, and on to India and China, becoming a global religion accepting of, and accepted by, other faiths. Jesus told people that these words were the reason for his birth. People came to listen to him speak and to ask him for help wherever he went. Christians commemorate Lent to remember how Jesus once spent 40 days fasting in the wilds. They believed that he had been made alive again through God's power. In the twentieth century, Christianity in Africa exploded from an estimated population of eight or nine million in 1900 (8 to 9%) to some 335 million in 2000 (45%), marking a shift in the “center of gravity of Christianity” from the West to Latin America, parts of Asia and Africa. They saw that the heavy stone had been rolled away. Christians eat bread and drink wine that has been blessed by a priest or minister during Holy Communion. Christianity arrived in Africa in the late 1st or early 2nd century AD, making these Christian communities some of the earliest in the world. Christianity was mostly in Europe at the time. Christians, Jews and Muslims believe that a loving God created everything. AICs have also demonstrated a strong missionary tendency in that most of the spread of Christianity throughout Africa in the 20 th century can be attributed to African Independent Churches. Norman, E. (1981), Christianity in the Southern Hemisphere: The churches in Latin American and South Africa (Oxford: Clarendon). Christianity spread from Israel, around the Mediterranean Sea, to Egypt, Syria and the rest of the world. This is called the Resurrection because Jesus was raised from the dead. The rise of Islamic empires and states. Christianity in Africa arrived in Egypt in the middle of the 1st century. They also believe that there is life after death because of their faith in Jesus. Jesus was crucified on a hill called Golgotha on a Friday around the year 29 AD. From the time of the first white settlements in South Africa, the Protestant emphasis on home Bible reading ensured that basic literacy would be achieved in the family.Throughout the development from itinerant teachers to schools and school systems, the family foundation of Christian education remained, though it was gradually extended to embrace an ethnic-linguistic “family.” South Africa. Source: www.drsmdavis.com. February 1986; ... as well as the spread of cultural elements such as religious systems. This is why Mary is also called the Mother of God and the Virgin Mary. The expansion of the Arab Empire in the years following the Prophet Muhammad’s death led to the creation of caliphates occupying a vast geographical area. By 180 AD the new religion had spread throughout the whole Roman Empire, into Persia (Iran), North Africa and India. He also told them to baptise people in the name of the Trinity. Africa, and specifically Nigeria is subject to many problems, including corruption, greed, continued sexual immorality and violence. To understand what Christianity means in Africa today, we need to look at the spread of this religion in Africa across history. They were called disciples. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.". Google Scholar Nürnberger, K. (1975), ‘The Sotho notion of the Supreme Being under the impact of the Christian Proclamation’, Journal of Religion in Africa , … University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Abstract The aim of this article is to describe the impact of Christianity on sub-Saharan Africa. Christianity, despite its eclipse from most of Northern Africa in subsequent centuries. âThe spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 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