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