Muchumayeli Bhebhe

An African Culture of Multiple Religiosity: the Perspective of the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe Muchumayeli Bhebhe

Some African people converting to Christianity continue to supplement, substitute or dilute rituals, beliefs and practices of this religion with some from various other religions in the area. What puzzles the most is that those caught up in this habit are sometimes very much aware of how their Christian denominations deplore and classify the behavior as ?religious harlotry?. A majority of the Evangelical Christian traditions condemn any form of mixing up of Christianity with other faiths. This book therefore explores the culture of multiple religiosity common in most parts of Africa by focusing on Zimbabwe, thereby proposing some solutions. Out of the many possible causes of multiple religious allegiances, this book focuses on the most recurrent ones as demonstrated by the field research. The phenomenon of fear; the conversion enterprise; the attitude of the messengers including the structure of the message; are some among the chief causes uncovered. However, as part of the solution; theologians, missionaries, religious leaders and some other interested parties are encouraged to work towards coining a contextually relevant and credible theology, suitable for a modern day Africa.