THE IMPACT OF AFRICAN CULTURE ON CHRISTIANITY IN CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH, ILE-IFE, OSUN-STATE.

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Date
2000-05
Authors
AFOLABI, SUNDAY ROTIMI
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Abstract
This researcher investigated the "Impact of African Culture On Christianity In Christ Apostolic Church, Ile-Ife, Osun-State." For a representative view, he randomly selected his samples, and administered questionnaire'' on 660 people. Six hundred and fifty returned completed copies of the questionnaire and were found usable because the items were properly and completely answered. Three research questions and hypotheses were set for this research. They focused on the type of Christianity practiced in the CAC, aspect of African Culture that have had influence on Christianity in the CAC, and the impacts on the CAC members. The two of the three hypotheses were accepted. The findings of the research are: (a) The Impact of African Culture on the type of Christianity practiced in CAC is positive. Members use their local language to praise, pray and hear sermons, seek guidance through dreams read Psalms to effect solutions to their problems, go to sacred places on pilgrimages, use holy water for healing, observe certain hours for effective praying, consult prophets before doing any important thing, and sing songs m African (Yoruba) tunes. (b)The church challenges her members to pray for deliverance from the attack of the devil and/or cvii spirits. Hie members are encouraged to put their trust in God rather than the gods of traditional religion. Holy living is demanded by the church to avoid demonic oppression. Monogamy is preferred to polygamous life. (c)The ministers and lay-members of Christ Apostolic Church disagreed significantly on the extent to which certain aspects of African Culture are found in the CAC. The existence of familiar spirits such as witches and wizards arc acknowledged by the church. Poverty, barrenness are acknowledged problems of Africans to which the church tries to provide solutions. Sicknesses and bad dreams are problematic to African Christians and the CAC addresses these issues. The CAC members hold that constant and loud praying allows them to be psychosomatically involved in worship. The researcher concluded with three recommendations. The first two recommendations are to the Christ Apostolic Church denomination: that a monitoring team should be constituted by CAC to supervise and control the W l l aspects of African Culture incorporated into the worship service of the mission ; and that a systematic study of the nature and effects of African Culture on CAC should be carried out throughout Nigeria for validation purposes. Thirdly, researches should be conducted on other African Independent Churches to find out the extent to which African Culture has been incorporated in their worship
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THESIS SUBMITTED TO POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF EDUCATION IN CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA.
Keywords
IMPACT,, AFRICAN CULTURE,, CHRISTIANITY ,, CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH,, ILE-IFE, OSUN-STATE
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