African Religions & Philosophy

Front Cover
Heinemann, 1990 - Religion - 288 pages
4 Reviews

"African Religions and Philosophy" is a systematic study of the attitudes of mind and belief that have evolved in the many societies of Africa. In this second edition, Dr Mbiti has updated his material to include the involvement of women in religion, and the potential unity to be found in what was once thought to be a mass of quite separate religions.

Mbiti adds a new dimension to the understanding of the history, thinking, and life throughout the African continent. Religion is approached from an African point of view but is as accessible to readers who belong to non-African societies as it is to those who have grown up in African nations.

Since its first publication, this book has become acknowledged as the standard work in the field of study, and it is essential reading for anyone concerned with African religion, history, philosophy, anthropology or general African studies.

 

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LibraryThing Review

User Review  - BryanThomasS - LibraryThing

The classic on the topic, written by an African. Very in depth and informative and insightful. Covers a lot of ground and compares the commonalities, while also noting differences. Read full review

User Review - Flag as inappropriate

Mbiti's work on African Religion must be compended, his writes from the heart and speaks to the soul. Mmatheo Motsisi, Johannesburg South Africa

Selected pages

Contents

UNDERSTANDING AND INTER PRETATION
15
c The concept of past present and future
21
h Discovering or extending the future dimension of time
27
THE WORKS OF GOD
39
d The governing work of God
45
THE WORSHIP OF GOD
58
SPIRITUAL BEINGS SPIRITS AND THE LIVINGDEAD
74
THE CREATION AND ORIGINAL STATE OF MAN
90
MARRIAGE AND PROCREATION
130
DEATH AND THE HERE AFTER
145
MEDICINEMEN RAINMAKERS KINGS
162
MYSTICAL POWER MAGIC WITCHCRAFT
189
THE CONCEPTS OF EVIL ETHICS AND JUSTICE
199
CHANGING MAN AND HIS PROBLEMS
211
CHRISTIANITY ISLAM AND OTHER RELIGIONS
223
THE SEARCH FOR NEW VALUES IDENTITY
256

ETHNIC GROUPS KINSHIP AND THE INDIVIDUAL
98
BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD
107
INITIATION AND PUBERTY RITES
118
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
272
INDEXES
279
Copyright

Other editions - View all

African religions and philosophy
John S. Mbiti
Snippet view - 1970
African religions & philosophy
John S. Mbiti
Snippet view - 1969
African religions & philosophy
John S. Mbiti
Snippet view - 1969
View all »

Common terms and phrases

activities African religions African societies animals areas become believe birth body called cattle cause ceremony child Christianity Church comes concept concerned consider continue corporate created culture customs dead death departed describe divinities especially evil example existence experience father formal future girls give given God's hold human husband ideas important individual initiation involved Islam keep killed king living living-dead London magic marriage means mother Muslim myths nature objects observe offerings origin parents performed period person physical political position practice prayers present priests rain relatives religions religious reported rites ritual rule rulers sacred Sasa situation social spirits symbol things thought traditional traditional religions understanding universe village whole wife women worship Zamani

References to this book

About the author (1990)

Canon Professor JOHN MBITI, an Anglican priest from Kenya, taught Theology and Religion for many years at Makerere University in Uganda. After that he served as Director of the Ecumenical Institute Bossey, of the World Council of Churches near Geneva, Switzerland. He has been visiting professor at many universities in Europe, America, Canada and Australia and has travelled widely in many countries. Professor Mbiti has published over 400 articles, reviews and books on theology, religion, philosophy and literature. Currently he is part-time professor at the University of Bern, and parish minister in Burgdorf, Switzerland. He is married to Verena and they have four children: Kyeni, Maria, Esther and Kavata.

Bibliographic information

QR code for African Religions & Philosophy
TitleAfrican Religions & Philosophy
African Writers Series
AuthorsJohn S. Mbiti, Mbiti
Editionillustrated
PublisherHeinemann, 1990
ISBN0435895915, 9780435895914
Length288 pages
Subjects › 

Religion / Ethnic & Tribal
  
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