Africans and Westerners often view the world very differently. In the West, it is thought that things happen because of reasons that can be determined by science. Sickness is caused by microrganisms, weather patterns are affected by changes in air temperature, etc. African cultures would say that there is a supernatural element involved in most illnesses, death and weather. I would say that most people in the West would scoff at such idea, and possibly African cultures scoff at the Westerner's inability to recognize the spiritual forces at work in the world. I would argue that we have a lot to learn from each other.
I've started reading Quest for Power: Guidelines for Communicating the Gospel to Animists by Robert C. Blaschke. He defines animism as "the worship of spiritual powers who indiscriminately and upredictably bring both good and evil to their followers, but whose ultimate purpose as described by Jesus is '..to steal and kill and to destroy' (John 10:10) "
"The animist is primarily concerned with the 'who' and 'why'questions. Hence, her only recourse is to consult a diviner." When someone is sick, it needs to be found out who is was trying to harm them through spiritual means, so that they can have a spiritual cure. When someone dies, blame needs to be established-who cursed them? Retaliation can then be taken.
For a current example, there has been a severe lack of rain in Mundri and crops are failing. Global climate change is hitting parts of Africa hard and people who are live with little margin in their lives suffer. In an attempt to figure out why there is no rain and who caused it, the witch doctor was consulted. The witch doctor said that he was holding back the rain because a sacred tree was bulldozed. The bulldozer has since broken down and the driver went away and has never been heard from again. The witch doctor is asking for a sacrifice of a black goat at the place where the tree was. The leaders of the town are making plans to follow through. Though men wear suits or people attend church, there is an underlying understanding that the spirits need to be appeased.
We all have ways we try to control our environment. In the West, we rely heavily on science and medicine. In animistic societies, "Being powerless in the face of the spiritual forces, man seeks to get control of his life through empowerment from these same spirits by manipulating and appeasing them. This search for power, if successful, enables man to survive, to protect himself from curses, evil omens, ancestor spirits and sickness."
The good news of Christ is bigger than forgiveness of sins and also includes freedom from the powers of darkness. Pray that the full truth reaches the hearts of those who live in constant fear and helplessness in the face of spiritual forces.
"Man today is in desperate need of the power of the gospel to deliver him from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God, from Satan's authority to God's authority, from alienation from God to allegiance to God through repentance and the forgiveness of sin."
I'll continue to share insights from this book as I read through it.
I've started reading Quest for Power: Guidelines for Communicating the Gospel to Animists by Robert C. Blaschke. He defines animism as "the worship of spiritual powers who indiscriminately and upredictably bring both good and evil to their followers, but whose ultimate purpose as described by Jesus is '..to steal and kill and to destroy' (John 10:10) "
For a current example, there has been a severe lack of rain in Mundri and crops are failing. Global climate change is hitting parts of Africa hard and people who are live with little margin in their lives suffer. In an attempt to figure out why there is no rain and who caused it, the witch doctor was consulted. The witch doctor said that he was holding back the rain because a sacred tree was bulldozed. The bulldozer has since broken down and the driver went away and has never been heard from again. The witch doctor is asking for a sacrifice of a black goat at the place where the tree was. The leaders of the town are making plans to follow through. Though men wear suits or people attend church, there is an underlying understanding that the spirits need to be appeased.
We all have ways we try to control our environment. In the West, we rely heavily on science and medicine. In animistic societies, "Being powerless in the face of the spiritual forces, man seeks to get control of his life through empowerment from these same spirits by manipulating and appeasing them. This search for power, if successful, enables man to survive, to protect himself from curses, evil omens, ancestor spirits and sickness."
The good news of Christ is bigger than forgiveness of sins and also includes freedom from the powers of darkness. Pray that the full truth reaches the hearts of those who live in constant fear and helplessness in the face of spiritual forces.
"Man today is in desperate need of the power of the gospel to deliver him from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God, from Satan's authority to God's authority, from alienation from God to allegiance to God through repentance and the forgiveness of sin."
I'll continue to share insights from this book as I read through it.
3 comments:
Pat highly recommended this book. Keep sharing! Maybe I'll get to read it one day, but until then, learning vicariously through you!
Karen, I am so excited that you are finding this book so applicable in Sudan! Bihwa turned me on to it and i think it is a MUST READ FOR ALL MISSY'S TO AFREECA!
Blessings to you all! nonestri
Fascinating insight Karen. I'll be sharing with WVPCA this Sunday for our first "Masso Minute - Sudan Update" and will definitely include something about the vast differences in world view as well as other things from the blog. Thanks for keeping us up to date with life in Southern Sudan. God Bless!
Post a Comment