In pursuit of redemption: new meanings and values of the African religious experience

Abstract

Article is devoted to processes of rapprochement and synthesis of the African traditional religions, on the one hand, and world religions — Christianity and Islam — on the other. The main attention is paid to the role of the African religious syncretism in civilization development of Africa to the south of the Sahara: to familiarizing of the African societies and the people, the African personality to so-called spirituality of the civilizations of “axial time” that are essentially different from ancient (archaic) civilizations on a way of understanding by the person of himself/herself, the borders of his/her opportunities, world life in general. The African religious syncretism is presented here both as the recipient of this civilization process and as its subject who is self-organized, inspired by the supreme cultural wealth of redermption. The tendencies of historical development of Africa to the south of the Sahara in the direction of “axial time” civilizations, evolution of contemporary Afro-Christianity and Afro-Islam in the direction of spirituality of “axial time”, the role of the African religious experience in sociocultural transformation of Africa during a post-colonial era are considered. The conclusion is drawn that conditions and results of post-colonial development of Africa to the south of the Sahara bring millions of Africans, spiritual and political leaders of Africa, the African religious and social and political thought closer to a situation of the choice of ways of civilization development as ways of rescue, mobilization of spiritual powers and spiritual experience of the person.