Religious Pluralism in Ghana: Using the Accommodative Nature of African Indigenous Religion (AIR) as a Source for Religious Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence
Keywords:
African indigenous religion, religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence
Abstract
This article deploys the accommodative nature of African Indigenous Religion (AIR) as a reflective tool in Ghana’s religious pluralistic context. This paper argues that the accommodative nature of AIR which has made scholars argue for its singularity can serve as a tool which would promote religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Ghana. The findings of the research demonstrated that though there is a level of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among various religious groups in Ghana, there is still more room for improvement, thus the proposal of this model as a response.
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References
[1] D. H. Davis, Introduction: Religious Pluralism as the Essential Foundation of America’s Quest for Unity and Order. The Oxford Handbook of Church and State in the United States, 2011.
[2] E. Menegon and G Cogan, “Religious change in East Asia,†in Religion and Religious Change, ed(s) Jerry H. Bentley, Sanjay Subrahmanyam, and Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks. Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 387-422. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139022460.017.
[3] B. Møller, Religion and Conflict in Africa With A Special Focus on East Africa. Danish Institute for International Studies, Diis Report 6,2006, pp.12.
[4] Møller, Religion and Conflict in Africa, 19-33.
[5] S. Nathan Iddrisu, “I am Because We Are: A Precondition to Peace in a Religious and Political Pluralistic West African Country,†Journal of Applied Thought: A Multidisciplinary Approach Vol. 3, No.1, (2014):44
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[7] E. Göran Collste, Religious and Ethnic Pluralism in Malaysia. Linköping: University Electronic Press,2006, pp. 10.
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[9] I. N. Osemeka, “The Management of Religious Diversity in West Africa: The Exceptionalism of The Wolof And Yoruba In the Post-Independence Period,†Historia Actual Online, No. 33 (2014): 62.
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[11] Konadu, “Religious Pluralism,â€1.
[12] N. Kofognotera Nonterah, “The Challenges of Interfaith Relations in Ghana,†In Pathways for Interreligious Dialogue in the Twenty-First Century. Pathways for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue (ed)s. Latinovic V., Mannion G., Phan P.C. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
[13] M. Fuseini Wandusim, “Interfaith Dialogue and Christian Witness: Exploring the Challenges and Tensions Involved from a Ghanaian Perspective,†Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education Vol. 3, No.2, (2015):166.
[14] E. Martey, “The Challenge of Inter-Religious Dialogue and Praxis to the African Theological Community,†A Paper Presented to World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions, 2008.
[15] J. Moltmann, “Dialogue or Mission? Christianity and the Religions in an Endangered†World in Christianity and Other Religions Selected Readings, ed(s), John Hick and Brian Hebblethwaite (Oneworld Publications, 2001).
[16] P. F. Knitter, Introducing Theologies of Religions. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books,2002.
[17] Ghana Statistical Service [GSS], 2010 Population & Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results. Accra, Ghana: Ghana Statistical Service, 2012.
[18] United States Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, “Ghana 2018 International Religious Freedom Report,†https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GHANA-2018-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf. (Accessed December 2019).
[19] Evangelical Mission in Solidarity, “Ghana Interfaith Dialogue,†https://ems-online.org/en/projects/international-support/ghana-interfaith-dialogue/. (Accessed December 2019).
[20] K. Zurek, “Dr Chambas to Deliver Public Lecture on National Chief Imam’s Centenary Celebration,†19th April 2019. Graphic Online. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/dr-chambas-to-deliver-public-lecture-on-national-chief-imam-s-centenary-celebration.html. (Accessed December 2019).
[21] GhanaWeb, “National Chief Imam attends Catholic Mass for 100th Birthday Thanksgiving,†21st April 2019. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/National-Chief-Imam-attends-Catholic-mass-for-100th-birthday-thanksgiving-740200. (Accessed December 2019).
[22] M. Abdul-Hamid, “Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana: A Model for World Dialogue and Peace,†lorin Journal of Religious Studies Vol.1, No.1, (2011):21-32.
[23] J. Rhoda Akuaku, Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana: The Case of Two Selected Senior High Schools Awoshie and Dansoman, A Master’s Thesis Submitted to MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, 2018.
[24] E. Obeng-Mireku, Christian-Muslim Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Ghana And Nigeria, A Master Thesis Submitted to University of Lethbridge, 2017.
[25] M. Fuseini Wandusim, “Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana: The Role of the Youth,†Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education Vol.4, No.3(2015): 223-230.
[26] C. Justice Ebo Sarbah, A Critical Study of Christianâ€Muslim Relations in The Central Region of Ghana With Special Reference to Traditional Akan Values, A Ph.D. Thesis Submitted to the University of Birmingham, 2010.
[27] N. Alhassan Alolo, African Traditional Religion and Concepts of Development: A Background Paper. International Development Department, University of Birmingham, 2007, pp. 14.
[28] J. Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy. London: Heinemann,1969, pp.1.
[29] J.S. Booth, An approach to African religion. In African Religions, A Symposium (ed) J.S. Booth, New York: NOK Publishers,1977, pp.3.
[30] L. Magesa, African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1997.
[31] Ibid.
[32] A. Shorter, “Concepts of Social Justice in Traditional Africa,†Pro Dialogo Bulletin No.12, (1977):48.
[33] E. Bolaji Idowu, African Tradition Religion: A Definition. London: SCM Press Ltd,1973.
[34] Magesa, African Religion, 18.
[35] A. Zijlma, “Travel and Culture: African Proverbs and Their Meanings,†6th March 2019. https://www.tripsavvy.com/african-proverbs-and-their-meanings-1454492. (Accessed December 2019).
[36] Prekese Ghana Media, “Ghana Nananom News Antoa: What you need to know about Antoa Nyamaa,†3rd February 2014. https://issuu.com/prekeseghanamedia/docs/ghana_nananom_news_-_antoa____antoa. (Accessed December 2019).
[2] E. Menegon and G Cogan, “Religious change in East Asia,†in Religion and Religious Change, ed(s) Jerry H. Bentley, Sanjay Subrahmanyam, and Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks. Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp. 387-422. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139022460.017.
[3] B. Møller, Religion and Conflict in Africa With A Special Focus on East Africa. Danish Institute for International Studies, Diis Report 6,2006, pp.12.
[4] Møller, Religion and Conflict in Africa, 19-33.
[5] S. Nathan Iddrisu, “I am Because We Are: A Precondition to Peace in a Religious and Political Pluralistic West African Country,†Journal of Applied Thought: A Multidisciplinary Approach Vol. 3, No.1, (2014):44
[6] A. Konadu, “Religious Pluralism and its Effects on Ghanaian Society,†GRIN (2018):1.
[7] E. Göran Collste, Religious and Ethnic Pluralism in Malaysia. Linköping: University Electronic Press,2006, pp. 10.
[8] É. Rouméas, “What Is Religious Pluralism?†In Religious Pluralism: A Resource Book, ed(s) Bardon, Aurélia; Birnbaum, Maria; Lee, Lois; Stoeckl, Kristina And Roy, Olivier. Florence: European University Institute, ReligioWest, 2015, pp.12.
[9] I. N. Osemeka, “The Management of Religious Diversity in West Africa: The Exceptionalism of The Wolof And Yoruba In the Post-Independence Period,†Historia Actual Online, No. 33 (2014): 62.
[10] D. L. Eck, “What is Pluralism?†http;//www.academiacroom.com/topic/religious. (Accessed December 2019).
[11] Konadu, “Religious Pluralism,â€1.
[12] N. Kofognotera Nonterah, “The Challenges of Interfaith Relations in Ghana,†In Pathways for Interreligious Dialogue in the Twenty-First Century. Pathways for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue (ed)s. Latinovic V., Mannion G., Phan P.C. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
[13] M. Fuseini Wandusim, “Interfaith Dialogue and Christian Witness: Exploring the Challenges and Tensions Involved from a Ghanaian Perspective,†Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education Vol. 3, No.2, (2015):166.
[14] E. Martey, “The Challenge of Inter-Religious Dialogue and Praxis to the African Theological Community,†A Paper Presented to World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions, 2008.
[15] J. Moltmann, “Dialogue or Mission? Christianity and the Religions in an Endangered†World in Christianity and Other Religions Selected Readings, ed(s), John Hick and Brian Hebblethwaite (Oneworld Publications, 2001).
[16] P. F. Knitter, Introducing Theologies of Religions. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books,2002.
[17] Ghana Statistical Service [GSS], 2010 Population & Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results. Accra, Ghana: Ghana Statistical Service, 2012.
[18] United States Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, “Ghana 2018 International Religious Freedom Report,†https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GHANA-2018-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf. (Accessed December 2019).
[19] Evangelical Mission in Solidarity, “Ghana Interfaith Dialogue,†https://ems-online.org/en/projects/international-support/ghana-interfaith-dialogue/. (Accessed December 2019).
[20] K. Zurek, “Dr Chambas to Deliver Public Lecture on National Chief Imam’s Centenary Celebration,†19th April 2019. Graphic Online. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/dr-chambas-to-deliver-public-lecture-on-national-chief-imam-s-centenary-celebration.html. (Accessed December 2019).
[21] GhanaWeb, “National Chief Imam attends Catholic Mass for 100th Birthday Thanksgiving,†21st April 2019. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/National-Chief-Imam-attends-Catholic-mass-for-100th-birthday-thanksgiving-740200. (Accessed December 2019).
[22] M. Abdul-Hamid, “Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana: A Model for World Dialogue and Peace,†lorin Journal of Religious Studies Vol.1, No.1, (2011):21-32.
[23] J. Rhoda Akuaku, Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana: The Case of Two Selected Senior High Schools Awoshie and Dansoman, A Master’s Thesis Submitted to MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, 2018.
[24] E. Obeng-Mireku, Christian-Muslim Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Ghana And Nigeria, A Master Thesis Submitted to University of Lethbridge, 2017.
[25] M. Fuseini Wandusim, “Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana: The Role of the Youth,†Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education Vol.4, No.3(2015): 223-230.
[26] C. Justice Ebo Sarbah, A Critical Study of Christianâ€Muslim Relations in The Central Region of Ghana With Special Reference to Traditional Akan Values, A Ph.D. Thesis Submitted to the University of Birmingham, 2010.
[27] N. Alhassan Alolo, African Traditional Religion and Concepts of Development: A Background Paper. International Development Department, University of Birmingham, 2007, pp. 14.
[28] J. Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy. London: Heinemann,1969, pp.1.
[29] J.S. Booth, An approach to African religion. In African Religions, A Symposium (ed) J.S. Booth, New York: NOK Publishers,1977, pp.3.
[30] L. Magesa, African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1997.
[31] Ibid.
[32] A. Shorter, “Concepts of Social Justice in Traditional Africa,†Pro Dialogo Bulletin No.12, (1977):48.
[33] E. Bolaji Idowu, African Tradition Religion: A Definition. London: SCM Press Ltd,1973.
[34] Magesa, African Religion, 18.
[35] A. Zijlma, “Travel and Culture: African Proverbs and Their Meanings,†6th March 2019. https://www.tripsavvy.com/african-proverbs-and-their-meanings-1454492. (Accessed December 2019).
[36] Prekese Ghana Media, “Ghana Nananom News Antoa: What you need to know about Antoa Nyamaa,†3rd February 2014. https://issuu.com/prekeseghanamedia/docs/ghana_nananom_news_-_antoa____antoa. (Accessed December 2019).
Published
2020-04-28
How to Cite
Nkrumah-Pobi, S., & Owusu-Afriyie, S. (2020). Religious Pluralism in Ghana: Using the Accommodative Nature of African Indigenous Religion (AIR) as a Source for Religious Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence. International Journal of Interreligious and Intercultural Studies, 3(1), 73-82. https://doi.org/10.32795/ijiis.vol3.iss1.2020.690
Section
Articles
