The Christian communities in North Africa were among the earliest in the world. … In the 15th century Christianity came to Sub-Saharan Africa with the arrival of the Portuguese. In the South of the continent the Dutch founded the beginnings of the Dutch Reform Church in 1652.
How did Christianity spread in South Africa?
Christianity was first introduced to South Africa in the 1600s when large numbers of Christian missionaries began arriving from the Netherlands. Further missionaries from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Scandinavia and the United States started to arrive from the early 1800s.
How did religion spread to South Africa?
The first symbols of Christianity in southern Africa were in the form of crosses planted along the coast by early Portuguese seafarers. With the establishment of a trading post at the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch in 1652, Christianity obtained a permanent foothold and gained converts among the indigenous population.
What caused Christianity to grow in Africa?
Much of the recent Christian growth in Africa is now due to African evangelism and high birth rates, rather than European missionaries.
What factors allowed Christianity to spread Africa?
” Most converts were previously animists, a religion that regards all objects as animate, or possessing a soul. The reason why so many Africans are turning to Christianity is attributed to a number of factors include disillusionment with political systems and a natural attraction to religious worship.
How was Christianity spread?
Beginning with the son of a Jewish carpenter, the religion was spread around the world first by Jesus’s disciples, then by emperors, kings, and missionaries. Through crusades, conquests, and simple word of mouth, Christianity has had a profound influence on the last 2,000 years of world history.
How was Christianity Colonised in Africa?
Christianity was one justification that European powers used to colonize and exploit Africa. Through the dissemination of Christian doctrine, European nations such as Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands sought to educate and reform African culture.
How did Christianity begin?
Christianity began in the 1st century CE after Jesus died and was resurrected. Starting as a small group of Jewish people in Judea, it spread quickly throughout the Roman Empire. Despite early persecution of Christians, it later became the state religion. In the Middle Ages it spread into Northern Europe and Russia.
How did Christianity impact West Africa?
CONTRIBUTION OF CHRISTIANITY TO WEST AFRICA
Apart from giving to the converts a new religious faith which they consider is superior to the traditional religions, the Christian missionaries did pioneering work in introducing new crafts, industries, Western education and modern health services.
What religion was practiced in Africa before Christianity?
Polytheism was widespreaded in most of ancient African and other regions of the world, before the introduction of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. An exception was the short-lived monotheistic religion created by Pharaoh Akhenaten, who made it mandatory to pray to his personal god Aton (see Atenism).
What are the factors that contributed to the spread of Christianity?
Ehrman attributes the rapid spread of Christianity to five factors: (1) the promise of salvation and eternal life for everyone was an attractive alternative to Roman religions; (2) stories of miracles and healings purportedly showed that the one Christian God was more powerful than the many Roman gods; (3) Christianity …
Why did Christianity fail in North Africa?
The fact that Christianity did not become thoroughly rooted in the indigenous population may in part be the reason why Christianity suffered a greater loss in North Africa than in Egypt when the Muslim invaders came to conquer. Later weaknesses were experienced through doctrinal controversies.
How did missionaries spread Christianity?
Perhaps the most lasting cultural impact of the missionaries has come through their contributions to Bible translation and education. By translating the Bible into the language of a non-European people, missionaries had to become pupils, learning the finer points of a local language from indigenous teachers.