Abstract:
The traditional definition of the term syncretism is not only vague and cryptic, but it is also used in a pejorative sense. Many attempts have been made to re-define the term syncretism. All
definitions are determined by the context of the one defining. Religion is part of a network of relations in which humans live. The network of relations condition human behaviour. In the past
few decades the term syncretism has been used with less negative connotation. This article gives a broad overview of the history of
the term syncretism. The article is also an attempt to give a useful definition to the term syncretism in order to make the term useful for the process in which the gospel is spread to other
cultures.
