book · Cambridge University Press eBooks
While global discussions of monotheism typically focus on the Abrahamic traditions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, African Traditional Religion also represents a major monotheistic tradition with widespread adherence across sub-Saharan Africa. Although it frequently includes lesser spirits and deities, it fundamentally centres on a single, supreme God responsible for creating and sustaining all existence. Despite its significant following, scholars worldwide, particularly those working in the West and the Northern Hemisphere, have largely neglected this tradition. Engaging African Traditional Religion directly with core topics in Anglo-American philosophy of religion brings overdue attention to this major world religion and helps bridge significant gaps in contemporary philosophical dialogue.
Monotheism is often treated as exclusive to Abrahamic faiths, leaving other widespread traditions out of global conversations. Recognising African Traditional Religion as a major monotheistic system with deep sub-Saharan roots challenges conventional academic frameworks. Bringing its concepts into conversation with Anglo-American philosophy broadens cross-cultural understanding and addresses the long-standing neglect of African belief systems within international theological and philosophical scholarship.
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The Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are typically recognized as the world's major monotheistic religions. However, African Traditional Religion is, despite often including lesser spirits and gods, a monotheistic religion with numerous adherents in sub-Saharan Africa; it includes the idea of a single most powerful God responsible for the creation and sustenance of everything else. This Element focuses on drawing attention to this major world religion that has been much neglected by scholars around the globe, particularly those working in the West or Northern Hemisphere. It accomplishes this primarily by bringing it into conversation with topics in the Anglo-American philosophy of religion.
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DOI: 10.1017/9781009524919
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