A comparison of African traditional religion and Christian welcoming ceremonies for children

Abstract

ABSTRACT Africans and other non-exclusivist Christians who practice African Traditional Religions (ATR) often face interpersonal and intrapersonal conflict caused by discrimination and the psychological struggle between two seemingly incompatible dogmas. In an attempt of reducing the discrimination that occurs between people of different religions and faiths, and in also helping those who experience internal conflict on what to subscribe to this study was commissioned. The primary aim was to compare the Basotho ATR and URCSA Christian welcoming ceremonies for children guided by the mutuality model of the inter­religious dialogue. Following a qualitative research approach, using existing literature as the main source of data, the study focused on the points of convergences and divergences between the two religions. Through this approach, the study found that the main purpose of performing a child-welcoming ceremony in these two religions is to give the child an identity, belonging, and to introduce them to the community, the Supreme Being and the conciliators. The knowledge produced in this study is anticipated to empower conflicted individuals with knowledge that could help them make the best personal decisions about their lives and that of their children.