Quote from South African Bishop
Desmond Tutu. [Image]. Retrieved from https://36.media.tumblr.com/0c2b010588354db668aaac2b376fa79e/tumblr_ng30k7cVML1r8uffzo2_500.jpg. Tumblr by unknown. The above quote is from Desmond Tutu, a
social activist and retired bishop of the Church of the Province of South
Africa (now the Anglican Church of Southern California). Desmond Tutu, was not
only a religious leader, but a man that fought for human rights and the
oppressed. He received the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1984 (“Desmond Tutu”, 2014).
Overview of Religion and REligious practices:
Culture is not just a shared and learned pattern of beliefs/perceptions, but also a site of contested spaces. Viewing culture as a contested site is an important component of intercultural communication. By acknowledging culture as a contested site it suggests that the individuals in a given culture are not identical, but diverse and heterogeneous and that every culture is replete with cultural struggles (Martin & Nakayama, 2013, p. 91). However, with that being said, South Africa is both different and similar to the United States when it comes to religions and religious practices. By examining the possibility of South Africa as both similar and different to the United States, one can avoid placing South Africans as “others” and instead recognize that religion is one aspect that shapes one’s identity and worldview. It also helps to understand that just because someone is from a different country doesn’t mean that beliefs and worldviews cannot be shared. Religion is only one of many variables that can either create a common bond or cause conflict. Therefore, with intercultural communications it is important not to make assumptions, but to try to listen, be culturally sensitive, and consider how one’s religion and religious practices can be a site of shared experiences or a contested site that affects communication.
Religion, and its function within a culture, as well as the historical past of a country can tell one a lot about a country. For example, America says that the state and church are separate; however, various cultural practices and symbols like the motto “In God We Trust” inscribed on our money indicate that religion is intricately linked to various cultural and social institutions and structures. South Africa also does not have an official religion; however, the last line of their constitution, “May God Protect Our People”, suggests that the government encourages Christian beliefs (Banhegyi, Dyer, Favis, Watson, & Verlaque-Napper, 2006, p. 14). Therefore, it’s important not to just examine what a culture says about themselves, but to examine the visual culture as well for indicators of certain common beliefs (which in this case seem to be similar to one another).
Although
many different religions are practiced in South Africa, eighty percent of South
Africans practice some form of Protestantism.
This is not surprising given South Africa’s historical past of
colonization and the work of Protestant missionaries within the country. South Africa’s past has shaped the religious
culture and religion continues to shape the culture as well (Byrnes, 1996). Another way in which one can see culture and
religion interacting is by examining the eight million South Africans that are
members of African Independent churches that combine traditional African and
Protestant beliefs. Traditional African
religions vary and are not homogenous as well.
For example, “many Khoisan peoples believe in a supreme being presiding
over daily life, controlling the environment, who is worshiped through rituals,
like dance and altered states of consciousness or small sacrifices to gain
knowledge for healing an individual and remedying a social evil; these dance
rituals are still among the most widely practiced religious rituals in South
Africa, and often used in some African Independent churches to heal the sick or
eradicate evil (Byrnes, 1996).
Bantu-speaking people also believe in a supreme-being who could bestow blessings or bring misfortune to humans. More influential in their spiritual life, however, is a group of ancestral spirits--a different pantheon of spiritual beings in each community. These spirits communicate with and influence the lives of the living, and they could sometimes be influenced by human entreaties by performing rituals (Byrnes, 1996).
"The Zulu and Xhosa religions generally sought to placate male ancestral spirits, often with libations of beer or offerings of meat, and to seek their guidance or intercession” (Byrnes, 1996). The mixing of religion with food and drink is similar to many religions practiced in America. However, Zulu and Xhosa do emphasize this part of their religion to a greater extent, and a cultural communicator would have to understand the significance of eating and drinking while interacting with these cultures. Particular held religious beliefs are an essential aspect to one’s identity in both South Africa and the United States and can create a variety of unforeseen consequences for those that are not aware of how the religion has shaped one’s worldview-for example in the practice of medicine. According to a personal interview with Pamela Ramushu (2014), an audiologist at a South African hospital, understanding a person’s religion is imperative to getting them to accept medical aide, like a hearing aid. For example, before she can treat a Zulu child, the parents might want to perform a ceremony, for example a ritual slaughtering of a goat or chicken, to seek their ancestor’s guidance about the hearing aid. Pamela mentioned how important it was to encourage the Zulu’s religious practices because if she did not the child would not actually wear the hearing aid. This means that the medical practitioner has to be culturally sensitive to patients’ religious practices in order to provide the best treatment and reduce conflicts.
According to the Pew Research institute, although the Christian population may be around 80%, around 56% of the South African Population believe in the protective power of sacrifices to spirits or ancestors. As, Pamela Ramushu pointed out above it is important to understand people's various religions, especially as someone serving the community in order to communicate inter-culturally and be helpful to others.
According to the Pew Research institute, although the Christian population may be around 80%, around 56% of the South African Population believe in the protective power of sacrifices to spirits or ancestors. As, Pamela Ramushu pointed out above it is important to understand people's various religions, especially as someone serving the community in order to communicate inter-culturally and be helpful to others.
Caption: Study down by the Pew Institute about Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved from http://www.pewforum.org/2010/04/15/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa/
Dutch Reform Church:
South Africa’s religions also give insight into the stratified nature that still exists in South Africa after Apartheid. For example, the Protestant denomination called the Dutch Reformed Church, with 4 million, mostly White and recently more Coloured members, illustrates that even among the Protestant denominations there is little homogeneity among Protestants themselves. The various other popular secondary religions including Roman Catholics (2.4 million), Hindus (350,000), Muslims (400,000), and Jews (100,000), and smaller numbers of Buddhists, Confucians, and Baha'is are indicators of how diverse religions are among the South African population and the wide variety of different world views that must be negotiated when communicating both as a citizen of South Africa and as a visitor (Byrnes, 1996).
Dutch Reform Church:
South Africa’s religions also give insight into the stratified nature that still exists in South Africa after Apartheid. For example, the Protestant denomination called the Dutch Reformed Church, with 4 million, mostly White and recently more Coloured members, illustrates that even among the Protestant denominations there is little homogeneity among Protestants themselves. The various other popular secondary religions including Roman Catholics (2.4 million), Hindus (350,000), Muslims (400,000), and Jews (100,000), and smaller numbers of Buddhists, Confucians, and Baha'is are indicators of how diverse religions are among the South African population and the wide variety of different world views that must be negotiated when communicating both as a citizen of South Africa and as a visitor (Byrnes, 1996).