Author Question: Summarize three of the common characteristics of African religions described in the text. How does ... (Read 101 times)

SGallaher96 · **on:** Jul 10, 2018

Summarize three of the common characteristics of African religions described in the text. How does Rastafarianism fit into this category?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Summarize the history of the Ghost Dance movement and describe its characteristics.

What will be an ideal response?

tranoy · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 10, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: The ideal answer will include:
1. Indigenous African religions typically are not text-based.
2. They are founded on stories of a rupture between the creator deity and humans.
3. Their pantheon includes a high god and several lesser deities.
4. Rituals focus on initiation of youth to adulthood and animal sacrifice.
5. Within shrines, altars focus on humandeity interaction, and healing is often important.
6. Rastafarianism is an Ethiopian-Caribbean blend that has developed in new directions, with an emphasis on reggae music, ganja, and Black power.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: The ideal answer will include:
1. The Ghost Dance movement was a revitalization movement that arose among the Paiutes, American Indians of California, in response to having their lands taken from them by White invaders.
2. A charismatic leader convinced his followers that wearing certain clothing would protect them from the White man's bullets.
3. He asked people to do a certain dance, called the Ghost Dance, to summon protective spirits.
4. A similar movement emerged in 1890, with a second prophet Wovoka, and the movement was again revived in 1970s by the American Indian Movement.