Research into religions: God often reflected image of the indigenous people.
Colonialism's mental impact: Shackles of mental enslavement to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Purpose: Prove these religions also have African origins, not just Asian or European.
Introduction
Religions' foundations: Every major religion borrows from older traditions.
Historical influence: African and Asian predecessors majorly influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Key Arguments
African Influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Historical migration: Africans crucial to Egypt's high culture, enabling developments in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Egyptian religion: Influenced major religious texts like the Book of the Dead.
Martin Luther and MLK Jr.: Martin Luther's reforms influenced by African religious principles.
Religious Practices and Influences
African traditional religions: Dismantling the misconception that they are merely pagan or fetishistic.
Libations and rituals: Prevail in both African religions and Christianity (e.g., Holy Communion).
Oracles and prophets: Sacred practices in African religions mirror those in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Cultural Perception and Racism
Western biases: Terms like “pagan” and “fetish” imposed by Europeans to degrade African religions.
Religious racism: Exclusion of African contribution to world religions due to prejudice.
African Ceremonial Practices
Dance and music: Integral to African religions and paralleled in Christian churches.
Ancestral worship: Comparably prevalent in both African religions and early Judaism and Christianity.
Traditional beliefs: Sacred trees and spirits reflect deep philosophical insights in African religions, often mirrored in major world religions.
Key Figures and Contributions
Tertullian: Established Latin language for Christian theology.
Saint Augustine: His works like "Confessions" and "City of God" foundational to Christian thought.
Saint Cyprian: His writings emphasized unity and strength even among persecution.
Conclusion
Impact of African religions: Found that African religious traditions deeply influenced the founding and practice of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Reaffirmation of African origins: Emphasized the need to recognize African contributions to major world religions as foundational rather than tangential.