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Notions of Healing and Transcendence in the Trajectory of A frican Traditional Religion: Paradigm and Strategies
Author(s) -
Essien Essien D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international review of mission
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.118
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1758-6631
pISSN - 0020-8582
DOI - 10.1111/irom.12027
Subject(s) - transcendence (philosophy) , indigenization , sociology , christian ministry , health care , spirituality , environmental ethics , psychotherapist , epistemology , psychology , alternative medicine , medicine , political science , law , philosophy , anthropology , pathology
This paper examines the import of transcendence in illnesses and misfortunes as well as the place of healing in A frican traditional religion. The belief in medicine among Africans is the art of using available forces of nature to prevent disease and to restore and preserve health. It occupies a prominent position in the religious lives of A frican people. This article draws attention to the practice of several healing activities in A frican traditional religion in its attempts to restore health, exploring the indigenization of health care procedures and the role and function of God in A frican medicine and healing. This work shows that the concept of God is central in A frican religion and plays a prominent role in its healing ministry. The paper concludes with a suggestion about what could constitute a collective synergy for Western orthodox and A frican traditional medicine.