Why is Africa so religious compared to Europe, and what good has it brought to Africa?

Africans used to be spiritual not religious, that is a diffrence.

That religion is exactly what is holding the continen back we have more churches ⛪ and mosques 🕌 than factory 🏭 and industry's. When people are going to space we are praying..

You’ve come with my favourite topic today. The main reason is people are expecting something out of nothing and too much fear of the unknown

Missionaries came to Africa with their mission and they find Africans living peaceful with their way of spiritual life with nature; and very close with their creator;

Building churches to fool ppls mind, business and money making;

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

Christianity came in Africa in the 4th century. Never heard about Ethiopia ??

According to our master teachers such as Clarke and Jochannan, religion is the deification of a culture. Africa is religious because it yearns for the wholeness of spirituality. Africans are religious because they suffer from forgetfulness of knowledge of self. Africans are more religious because we suffer greatly the most and are seeking a great salve to soothe us.

There are more churches in Africa than enterprises .

That is sad statement "if you take religion out of Africa and you render Africa Lifeless" smh . That's BS she said religion has brought peace to Africa. Someone in Ghana yank her teaching degree haha

I’ve visited many African countries and one cannot imagine the fervent religious intensity of the African mindset! It’s the major reason they have been on the bottom for so long! It doesn’t allow them to see themselves as Africans, they have accepted a universal worldwide ploy of love without taking any consideration for their own personal needs first.

Thought to this was going to be a real discussion, but immediately the priest is hedging and shuts down a legitimate point. Don't waste our time.

Good discussion! We need more of those kind of discussion to see where we came from and where we are going! Thank you for conducting that, sir!

Africans are not religious, they have a deep connection to the Creator and True God -there is a difference.

I left the catholic church from around 1990 when I studied Economics, African History and Geography and immediately started to realise that something was wrong. Questions like : Why have Africans and blacks who prayed for 200 years are not progressing and nothing good has changed in their favour? Although African leaders are to blame for not developing their countries, the Global Economic Structure does not, has not, and will never promote the development of African countries. Why are they still poor? Economics does not answer this, because it blindfolds its readers to believe so deeeply in the economic models that do not work for Africa. The answer to knowing the truth lies in International Political Economy which I have studied and researched on. Japanese, South Koreans, Singaporeans and Chinese don’t follow white Jesus and just look at the level they have developed. African christians waste two days (saturdays and sundays) every week to pray, while these Southeast Asian countries that I mentioned, use these two days to work, produce and acquire wealth. 👹👹😬😬.

Spirituality is the identity of Africa, not religion

"Building churches and universities...Deceiving the children continually..." (Ancestor Robert Nesta Marley)

Africanology:God, King, family and clan.

That lady Kata's statement is just baseless and doesn't make one bit of sense.... Religion especially Islam and Christianity has brought more horrors than blessings to my country NIGERIA... FOR EXAMPLE... I really do not understand what she's basing her theories on...it just infuriated me

🙏🏽 thank you to the lady in glasses 🇿🇦 teaching them “religion didn’t add anything to Africa but came to replace the spirituality beliefs of Africans”

As an African athiest in her kid twenties I can tell you it's not easy living in a religious renting here are some struggle I face: 1. People expect me to get married right away since I'm in a serious relationship, but I have plans for my future and oddly enough if I marry I have no access to the oportunities I want to excel in. 2. It's dificult listening to stories of women, children being raped and batered and wearing so much slut shaming as if rape is a woman's fault. 3. I have zero friends who share my interests 4. When I start projects to make money or talk about how I want to save my money for investments people look disgusted like "Don't you know we're suffering, you should use your entire salary to help the poor" no, because I know it helps no one. 5. People earing 100 to 500 USD a month are middle class. It makes me sad. 6. Parents don't know I am athiest and expect me to teach christianity to all. 7. I am expected to look after others instalar of investing in myself. This makes it less likely that I can have a business and therefore help others long term. In Africa people want things right now and caring for oneself is seen as evil and uncaring. I want to help my fellow Africans in my comunity but if I have to pay for your food each month it's not helping, just prolonging suffering. I want to help many long term and I can't do that yet.

We were once spiritual and worshipped Maat.#HarmonyAndBalance But, now we africans are lost and follow religions of soulless europoids.

i loved the discussion, particularly that of the woman. Africa was fine before the advent of Christianity and Islam

Believing is a definition of not to be sure,

1. Where is a representative of African spirituality? 2. Interesting that the two main religions that have sought dominance of the world by conversion by literal gunpoint are the representations here. 3. Combining all three perspectives brings us to African spirituality in my opinion. 4. Ironic that Judaism/Islam/Catholicism/ Christianity all historically derive from African spirituality when you research the origins of early testament scripts.

They came by boat bearing the Cross, Africans are spiritual. Christianity is not there religion. Thats how they took Africa and did how they pleace

The problem in Africa is we take religion as our number one priority while the Europeans take science as their number one priority

All African people should be able to come together in love no matter our religious belief.

The intellect these days is so low.

Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. You want to know why religion is so powerful in Africa? Because atheism has no answer for suffering. Africa is a wounded continent

Religion is ridiculous. Build the economy stop crime and corruption

im proud of my south african sister (Benita van eyssen) . . . . she is looking at this in a realistic way. im an atheist from south africa, and i also believe that religion does more harm than good. Hope we have such discussions in south africa too just so people can get different perspectives

Africans are religious because we are children of the sun (God)!!! 👑

Because Africa is the heartland of religion

Europe has a tradition of secular traditions, customs and establishments.. You also have secular nation states in Europe. France for example is technically a secular state. This is primarily the case after World War 2. European nations at least Western European nations are equipped with secular infrastructure .

We’re just very gullible. I classify myself as being religious but my understanding of Religion is very versatile and ever so idealistic. God never created anyone to be a sheep. Else there would be no point. We would’ve all just lived in the heaven he created and not be here on it.

They believe in God but don't know his name cuz God is a title,

Europeans teached them religion and took their wealth. Imperialism

The documentary lacks a very important detail. Former religious people. How can you compare Africa to Europe in terms of rate of religious presence and impact without speaking to a single former religious person?

Love this episode

Belief is not based on facts! I can believe that god is a dog too, but am I right? facts should take precedence over belief. why is "god" hiding anyways... maybe when we can focus on living in harmony with all creatures then god might show up and end all of these opinions.

Easy answer: IGNORANCE, POVERTY, REMAINS OF A COLONIZED MIND, INFANTILISM (also product of the colonialism), and, of course, FEAR.

There is a book called, Yurugu: An African-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behavior. Understanding these things enable us to distinguish the differentiation between utopian ideology versus indigenous or African ideals about what it means to be human and connecting to these other aspects of ourselves such as community, spirit, nature, relationships, etc.

Spirituality above religion, you don't have to be Christian or muslim or hindu but still have spiritual philosophy and spiritual awakening.

in more than words can express, thank you.

To believe is not to know, so you hold on to faith. Stevie Wonder said in his song: if you believe in things you don't understand, you will suffer. Superstition ain't the way. In the book of Acts 17 22 31 Then Paul stood in the midst of mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. Spirituality enhances the essence of life, while religion teach a myth about life.

Ethiopia is most religious as most welcoming to people including Kenya, Uganda, tarzinia. Then you got South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Algeria, Tunisia with less religious being less unwelcome their serm to be huge sheft. Abraham faith is blessing to Africa its political leaders and outside influence our nation that is keeping us poor robbing resources.

This was a very biased discussion. And I bet they didn't get any answers

Imagine this narrow minded teacher teaching you or your child. By the way, what is African Traditional Religion? Every part of Africa had it's own before Christianity, Islam, etc came about.

I just feel at peace

When you get to know the reality of abrahamic religions, you become non religious or shift to other religions like Hinduism..

Great debate

God bless africa ✝️❤

I know families who disowned people in their families for not believing organized religion- I personally don't know why black people are so religious when "Christianity" has done nothing for black people-its rare to see a black person who is not religious; black people should start using their common sense instead of using bible scriptures all the time.

Both of those guys needs to look deep to their faith, understanding how Christianity and Islam were forced into our African ppl. Understand our they were killing each other for the opportunity to convert African who believed in spirituality. To me, religion and spirituality is NOT the same. Religion is a way to play God, a way to control mankind.

These people don't know how to depict the difference between religion and spirituality. Spirituality brings us closer to the Higher Power whilst religion is just an institutional cave making us to self-identify in some type of way.

What did africans achieved with religion?

They are God's tribes residing there and most don't know who they are as a people. Many still serving false gods. Time to awaken to who you are as a people. His love is great and soon to appear. Time to submit and prepare by developing a relationship with Him you beautiful, talented, and knowledgeable people of God. Seeds sown will mature or fall into what's been planted. Remove religion and grow relationship with Him. Many practices etc... today are corrupt. Seek Him and reaffirm for truth.

After all it was the white men who said what we were doing is a religion and named it but it is not so... that's ATR

Religion is for lost, souls. It's appealing how these folks believe in religion. Africa is still life as a with all those European religions and Europe is the only power broker.😢😢

Look to spirituality and our ancestors and our true roots

"Religion on the continent before this one way the religions came to Africa. Africans were religious, it is part in the passion of our culture" Is he on the drug? May be he is.

The reason is because of fear of the unknown and lack of critical thinking knowledge in Africa

Instead of working hard to solve problems, we instead pray so that our problems 'go' away😂

The problem is not religion rather the foreign religion ideology and the Africans mentality

can you tell me the *difference* between schizophrenia and religion? what about schizotypal and religion?

We are not religious we are Thee Children of Almighty GOD, Our Love of our Heavenly Father is Our Nature!!!Natural Spirituality is in our DNA

Back in the days, long long time ago Greeks"that lighting, is god of thunder" Then comes science "Photons, electrons🔭🔮🔦🔋🔬" Questions gave birth to religion

Poverty is the answer....we believe that miracles will solve our problems and not hard work.

I disagree with the priest. Salvation is not based on our works but By grace and faith in Christ! Please understand that

@ this point ion know what the hell to believe ..

While it was not the white man who originated the Christian religion in Africa the widespread modern version of Christianity was spread through European missionaries. The version that has origins in places like Ethiopia are highly different in belief and practice. Many western Christians who learn about the orthodox African Christians and their beliefs always seem to find something to disagree with. Others think its rudimentary.

The statement that people are religiously enclined specifically because they are African is a fallacy. I gave the post a dislike and stopped watching after 10 minutes. All peoples, regardless of where they come from are inclined to believe easy information and/or lies over the truth and/or hard facts. The educational system in developed countries is just better equipped to teach children the ability to reason for themselves to counter that as they exclude religion from their curriculum. If you teach a child about talking snakes, virgins giving birth, the sun standing still in the sky the one moment, and saying the total opposite in the next you are only confusing the child. To make matters worse you cant use prayers to solve real-world problems, yet this is still being perpetuated in schools all over Africa today. Hence we have a dilemma of people believing the unreasonable.

Africa by nature is spiritual!

Because we are the original people on earth

We have always been like that even before we met the white men

Colonisation.

We are hard wired to our creater, not wi-fi connected.

You can't have this conversation without Egypt. It's history in African and world religions. The worst DW interview thus far, for me.

Before thé monoteist religions there has always been spirituality. Everywhere. monotheist religions are so successfull passed cultural borders cause they have always been embedded in what has been there before. Christianity n Islam in Africa is not the same Christianity as in Europe nor in Asia. Religion is a tool. And the outcome is therefore depending on those interpreting n practising.

You can not discuss issues of religion in Africa without a mention of Culture...... Africans are first cultural before they are religious hence religion comes in as an all pervasive reality oh human life. The opening statement of the Father comes from John Mbiti in his 1917 writing where he says AFRICANS ARE NOTORIOUSLY RELIGIOUS, religion is like a skin covering us as africans because it is part of everything that we do and our daily activity. its wrong to compare the Africans level of religion and the Europeans because the two have a very different background, take for instance the early protestants of Europe they were also religious because of their protestant work ethic and us as African we are religious because of our culture.

When religion replaced culture Afrika fell spiritually . our forefathers were told everything they did was demonic.who are saints? Aren't they dead people.who are our ancestors? Aren't they dead people? But it's okay to pray to saint so and so but mention ancestors it's demonic how? We are spiritual not religious .peace

So if Europe decides to turn their back on God, Africa must do the same. This presenter has a colonized mind. Europe is not the benchmark for Africa

We are religious because we know nothing about the universe

Religion sadly can often be the greatest expression of ingnorance ! Unless it is pure religion !!

They are religious, just for a whole different lord.

Industrial and intellectual decline in Africa must be blamed for africans who believe backward ideologies " africa will never become englitened continent as soon as they believe God ' hello from somali atheist in Germany 🇸🇴🇩🇪

The truth is in the temples of the Pharaohs and the tombs of ancient Kemet, many years before the bible and other books were created for identity. they did not have religion, it creates division and separation.

Given that Africa has been recognized as Cradle of Human Civilization, and that Age after Age (the Baha'i writings state every 500--1000 years) the Creator sends a Divine Educator (Manifestation) to facilitate human civilization going forward, it is understandable that Africa would be more religiously oriented than Europe. As humanity recognizes its divine roots, however, inclination to the expression of our natural God-likeness will, at the same time, steadily increase.

I think Africa has/had spiritual Values ...but Religion is an ORGANISED dogma! This is not desirable!

The priest cannot speak against his source of living.

*According to the Oxford Dictionary, religion is the belief in and worship of superhuman controlling power.* ummmm.....Dude. You got the wrong definition of the term "religion", because not all religions even have the concepts of deities within their belief system. Religion is an organized set of beliefs, and practices that are usually shared by a community. So just keep in mind that not everybody who is non-religious are even "atheist" by default, because secularism is not the exact same thing as atheism. There are plenty of non-religious theists who do exist.

This didn't answer any of the questions in the title 😒

U wasnt born with religion its passed on from person to person being a good person not committing murders having negative thoughts and energy. Long as you not that so call devil what do u need it for. Its definitely a higher power in universe but its not religion

African states by contrast historically don't have a division between secular and spiritual. The societies even during colonization retained their fusion of society and spirituality. The only thing close to secularism in African post colonial countries might have been socialist states. There isn't a secular core or structure of institutions, agencies, entities and political and economic systems in African nations . So There is nothing to rely or be tied outside religion and spirituality structurally that is wholly secular .

Africa was never religious but spiritual. So the priest is talking utter nonsense due to either ignorance or indoctrination.

I think Benita is make sense

There is a spiritual realm. God resides in a realm that we don’t see. It is from this realm that the universe was created. Mankind (across the entire planet not just Africa ) inherently knows this. That’s why “religion” is in every corner of the world. For the impoverished and the affluent. What many call “religion” is really the unfulfilled place in the heart that can only be filled by God. Jesus was sent to guide the believer (in his heart) to God. Not through religion but by The Spirit of God Himself. The Spirit of God replaces religion. Not through ancestor worship. The ancestors needed in their day what we need today. To believe in The Savior of mankind. Catholicism cannot save you because Catholicism is a religion. A set of do’s and don’t’s that are the work of man’s hands. Same with all other religions. Some religions mention Jesus but teach contrary to His teachings. Atheism is a religion that believes what it’s been told by others. That there is no God. (Atheist know that God exist but they just don’t like Him. Because they want to do the evil desires that reside in the heart without consequences. So they simply make Him disappear. Unsuccessfully). Religion will not save you! Jesus ate publicly with scoundrels prostitutes thieves liars and never once yelled at them. Who did He get angry with? RELIGIOUS LEADERS! Who sold the people a false version of God. Jesus hates religion and if you love religion then you simply love what God hates. I say this to those who seek God and not to those who desire to be part of some religion. There are religions that say it’s ok to throw a baby into the fire. What does God think of our so called “religions?” God is alive and fully operational. Every ancestor is dead. Ever see a dead person? Tell me, what can they possibly do for another? They have their own problems. Ever see a tree or a rock? Even if you carve them into an image they’re still a tree or a rock. Humans are in far better shape than stones and wood. Yet religion lowers a human to worship an object that wishes it was you! A rock can’t love, can’t smile, can’t reproduce, can’t eat or obtain shelter. It just sits there with that idol look on its face. A face created by the hands of men. Ha! An idol, created by man, is now being worshipped as man’s creator. That’s religion.

You guys know too much about me