Common Features

1
Common Features
2
Common Features

• The World
• Humans
• Problems for Humans
• The Solutions for Humans

3
A Perspective

• The Sub-Sahara Africans are not just animists but
  have developed religions in which things are not
  haphazard. Some come close to being monotheists
  others are henotheists.

4
Deities

• Although there may be one God who is above all of
  the others Africans are more concerned with
  deities who involve themselves with the
  day-to-day activities of the people. There are
  deities who rule over lesser spirits who have
  various responsibilities. Ancestors also serve as
  guides.

5
The World
6
The World

• The world is filled with energies that can be
  used for good or for bad. Life can be full of
  resources or scarce. Ancestors can be
  reincarnated.

7
Humans
8
Humans

• The soul or spirit is a very important part of
  the individual and the physical body has uses as
  well. At death the person "disassociates" with
  the body and the soul can be captured by a
  sorcerer. People with "atypical bodies" (twins,
  albinos) have powers.

9
The Problem for Humans
10
The Problems for Humans

• For some African religions (Zulu, Yoruba)
  everyone has a destiny and one tries to determine
  what this destiny is because they have forgotten
  it. The gods know it and one uses diviners to
  help one discover one's destiny.

11
More

• Priest and sorcerers can influence circumstances
  so that one's destiny (favorable) occurs.
  Ancestors are an important part of one's life and
  need not be offended.

12
Solutions for Humans
13
Solutions for Humans

• Communicating with the deities and spirits can
  help one discover one's personal destiny.
  Rituals help one to altar some part of one's
  destiny. One can seek specialists to help one
  determine one's destiny if one has not received a
  dream or vision. Powers should be used to help
  people and not harm them.