RELI

GION

DEFI
NITI
ONOFRELI
GION

-
Iti
sabel
i
efi
naSupr
emeBei
ngandman’
sresponset
hroughsy
mbol
sandact
ionst
o
t
hepr
esenceoft
heSupr
emebei
ng.

-Canal
sobedef
inedassomet
hingt
odowi
tht
hatst
rongf
eel
i
ngt
hatwehumanbei
ngs
hav
etowar
dst
hesupr
emeBei
ng.

Ty
pesofr
eli
gion

1.
Indi
genousRel
i
gion

2.Judai
sm

3.Chr
ist
iani
ty

4.I
slam

Char
act
eri
sti
csofr
eli
gion

1.Rel
i
gioni
sapr
act
ical
meani
ngasi
tshapest
hei
nter
est
sandaspi
rat
ionsoft
he
l
i
vedf
ami
l
yli
fewhi
chi
sexper
iencedi
napar
ti
cul
arr
eli
gion.

2.Rel
i
gioni
sexper
ienci
alandemot
ional
becausei
tssomet
hingonef
eel
sfr
om
i
nsi
de.

3.Rel
i
gionhassacr
edt
ext
sandwr
it
ingsasi
tisexpl
ainedt
hroughst
ori
eswhi
ch
canei
therbewr
it
tenoror
al.

4.Rel
i
gionhasasetofbel
i
efst
hatar
etobef
oll
owedwhi
chgui
desbel
i
ever
s.These
set
sofbel
i
efsar
ecal
l
eddoct
ri
nes.

5.Rel
i
gionhasl
awsaboutgoodandbadbehav
iour
.

6.Rel
i
gioni
saboutsoci
etybecausei
tisconcer
nedwi
thhowpeopl
einasoci
etyar
e
or
gani
zedandhowt
heyr
elat
ewi
theachot
her

1
 7.Rel
i
gioni
sexpr
essedt
hroughmat
eri
alt
hings.

At
tri
but
esofGod/
Supr
emeBei
ngi
nRel
igi
ons

1.I
ndi
genousRel
i
gion

i
. Ev
erl
ast
ing

i
i
. Al
lpower
ful
-hav
ingal
laut
hor
it
y

i
i
i. Al
l
-knowi
ng-
ful
lofwi
sdom

i
v. Ev
er-
present
-foundev
ery
wher
e

v
. Cr
eat
or-or
igi
nat
orofev
ery
thi
ng

v
i. Rai
nmaker

v
ii
. Heal
er

2.Judai
sm

i
. Tr
anscendent
-heoper
atesf
rom abov
e.

i
i
. Omni
pot
ent
-hei
sal
lpower
ful

i
i
i. Omni
sci
ent
-heknowsev
ery
thi
ng

i
v. Omni
present
-hei
sev
ery
wher
e

v
. Et
ernal
-heexi
stedbef
oret
hecr
eat
ionoft
heuni
ver
se.

3.Chr
ist
iani
ty

i
. Tr
anscendent
-heoper
atesf
rom abov
e.

i
i
. Omni
pot
ent
-hei
sal
lpower
ful

i
i
i. Omni
sci
ent
-heknowsev
ery
thi
ng

i
v. Omni
present
-hei
sev
ery
wher
e

2
 v
. Godi
slov
e

v
i. Godi
shol
y

v
ii
. Godi
sper
fect

4.I
slam

i
. Omni
sci
ent

i
i
. Omni
pot
ent

i
i
i. Omni
present

i
v. Oneness

v
. Al
l
ahexi
stswi
thoutdoubt

v
i. Al
l
ahbear
snor
esembl
ancet
oanyofhi
scr
eat
ions.

v
ii
. Hehaset
erni
ty

NamesofSupr
emeBei
ngi
nRel
igi
ons

1.I
ndi
genousRel
i
gion.

Name Meani
ng

Musi
ki Cr
eat
or

Musi
kav
anhu Cr
eat
orofpeopl
e

Mut
angakugar
a Onewhopr
e-exi
st

Samasi
mba Al
l
-powef
ul

Mwar
i Onewhospeakst
hroughnat
ure

Chi
razamauy
a Onewhogi
vesbl
essi
ngs

3
Dzi
vagur
u Gr
eatpool

Zame Onewhoi
stober
espect
ed

2.Judai
sm

Name Meani
ng

El
-Shaddai Godi
sal
lsuf
fi
cient

El
’
Ely
on Godi
sthemosthi
gh

El
’
Olam Ev
erl
ast
ing

YahwehYi
re’
eh Godwhopr
ovi
des

El
-Bet
hel Godwhoappear
edatBet
hel

El
oheAbr
aham

3.Chr
ist
iani
ty

- Chr
ist
iani
tyusest
hesamenamest
oref
ert
otheSupr
emeBei
ngast
hose
usedi
nJudai
sm.

- Howev
er,
inaddi
ti
on,
Chr
ist
iani
tyhasspeci
alnamest
oref
ert
oJesusandt
he
Hol
ySpi
ri
t.

4.I
slam

Name Meani
ng

Mer
cif
ul hehasmer
cy

Cr
eat
or Hecr
eat
edt
heuni
ver
se

Thef
orgi
vi
ng Hef
orgi
vessi
ns
4
TheAl
l
-knowi
ng Heknowsev
ery
thi
ng

TheHol
yone Hei
shol
ywi
thnosi
ns

KeyBel
ief
sinRel
igi
on.

1.I
ndi
genousRel
i
gion

i
. Theybel
i
efi
ntheexi
stenceofGodwhoi
snotf
orei
gnt
oAf
ri
cans.

i
i
. Thebel
i
efi
nGodi
snotcont
ainedi
nanywr
it
tent
ext
sbuti
tist
ransmi
tt
ed
aspar
toft
radi
ti
onor
all
y.

i
i
i. Ev
ery
thi
ngr
est
swi
tht
heSupr
emeBei
ng.

2.Judai
sm

i
. Godexi
sts

i
i
. Godi
soneanduni
que

i
i
i. Godi
sincor
por
eal

i
v. Godi
set
ernal

v
. TheMessi
ahwi
l
lcome

v
i. Thedeadwi
l
lber
esur
rect
ed

v
ii
. Godwi
l
lrewar
dther
ight
eousandpuni
sht
hewi
cked

3.Chr
ist
iani
ty

i
. Ther
eisonl
yoneGod.

i
i
. Bel
i
efi
nJesusChr
ist

i
i
i. Bel
i
efi
ntheHol
ySpi
ri
t

5
 i
v. Bel
i
efi
nthebapt
ism f
ort
her
emi
ssi
onofsi
ns

v
. Bel
i
efi
nthesecondcomi
ngofJesus

v
i. Bel
i
efi
nli
feaf
terdeat
h

v
ii
. Bel
i
efi
nresur
rect
ionoft
hebody

v
ii
i. Bel
i
efi
net
ernal
li
fe

i
x. Bel
i
efi
nangel
s.

4.I
slam

i
. Al
l
ahexi
sts

i
i
. Al
l
ahi
soneanduni
que

i
i
i. Mohammadi
sthel
astpr
ophet
.

i
v. Al
l
ahi
sfor
giv
ing

v
. Bel
i
evet
hatt
heQur
anwaswr
it
teni
nheav
en.

I
ndi
genousRel
igi
on

Whati
sIndi
genousRel
i
gion?

I
tref
erst
other
eli
giousbel
i
efs,
cust
omsandpr
act
icesofAf
ri
canst
hator
igi
nat
edf
rom
Af
ri
ca.

Hi
stor
yanddev
elopmentofI
ndi
genousRel
igi
on.

-
Thehi
stor
yofI
ndi
genousRel
i
gioncont
inuest
obedebat
abl
e.

-
Indi
genousr
eli
gionhasnospeci
fi
cfounder
.

-
Iti
spar
toft
hesoci
alst
ruct
ureoft
hecommuni
ty.

I
tdev
elopedov
eral
ongper
ioddat
ingbackt
housandsy
ear
sofy
ear
sago.

6
-
Ithasdev
elopedt
obecomepar
tofawor
ldwi
decul
tur
e.

-I
nthepr
esentday
,indi
genousr
eli
gioni
sbel
i
evedt
ocutacr
ossal
lAf
ri
canf
ami
l
iesas
r
epr
esent
edbyt
otemsacr
ossAf
ri
ca.

-
Themov
ementofpeopl
einl
argegr
oupshasbeenr
esponsi
blef
orspr
eadi
ngr
it
ual
sand
ot
herr
eli
giousi
deasassoci
atedwi
thI
ndi
genousr
eli
gion.

-
Inf
ormat
ioni
spassedor
all
y.

-
Indi
genousr
eli
gionmayt
her
efor
ebecal
l
edacul
tur
alr
eli
gion

-I
nIndi
genousRel
i
gion,
iti
sdi
ff
icul
ttosepar
ater
eli
gionf
rom t
hecul
tur
eofpeopl
eand
v
ice-
ver
sa

-
Tot
em pr
aise,
poet
ry,
prov
erbs,
fol
ktal
es,
songs,
idi
omsandj
okesar
eal
lpar
toft
he
t
ext
sthatt
ransmi
tcul
tur
einI
ndi
genousRel
i
gion.

Hi
stor
icalBackgr
oundofJudai
sm

Def
ini
ti
onofJudai
sm

-
Itr
efer
stot
her
eli
gionandcul
tur
eoft
heJews.

Or
igi
ns

-
Theyar
eJewswhobel
ongt
other
eli
gionbecauset
heypr
act
icet
heJewi
shwayofl
i
fe
l
i
keobser
vingcer
tai
nfoodl
awsandmanyot
herJewi
shcust
oms.

-Fol
l
ower
sar
eJudai
sm ar
enotconv
ert
edt
other
eli
gionbutar
ebor
nint
other
eli
gion.

-Wi
thJudai
sm,
iti
sver
ydi
ff
icul
ttosepar
ater
eli
gionf
rom t
hecul
tur
eoft
hepeopl
eand
v
icev
ersa,

-
Abr
aham i
scal
l
edt
hegr
eatancest
oroft
heJews.

-Abr
aham i
scal
l
edapat
ri
archbecausehei
sthemal
eleaderofat
ri
beorcl
an.

-Hei
sthef
ir
stpat
ri
arch,
Isaachi
ssont
hesecond,
Jacob,
Isaac’
ssont
het
hir
d.

7
-Judai
sm beganwi
tht
her
eli
gionoft
hesepat
ri
achs.

-Somepeopl
emaywantt
obel
i
evet
hatt
heHi
stor
yofJudai
sm beganwi
thMoses,
a
l
aterancest
oroft
heJews.

Hi
stor
icalBackgr
oundofChr
ist
iani
ty

Def
ini
ti
onofChr
ist
iani
ty

-
Iti
sther
eli
gionofal
lthepeopl
e(JewsandGent
il
es)whoconsi
derJesusofNazar
eth
ast
hei
rsav
ior
.

Or
igi
ns

-
Chr
ist
iani
tybeganwi
tht
hebi
rt
hofJesus.

-
Thest
oryoft
hebi
rt
hofJesusi
srecor
dedi
ntwogospel
sint
heBi
blewhi
char
e
Mat
thewandLuke.

-Ar
ound533CE,
PopeJohnI
,consi
der
edi
tnecessar
ytomakeaChr
ist
iancal
endar
.

-Thecal
endarwoul
dreaddat
esi
nter
msoft
hebi
rt
hofJesus.

Hi
stor
icalBackgr
oundofI
slam

Def
ini
ti
onofI
slam

-
Itmeanst
otal
submi
ssi
ont
oGod.

Or
igi
ns.

-
Isl
am i
sconsi
der
edasoneoft
het
hreemonot
hei
sti
crel
i
gionsi
nthewor
ld.

-Judai
sm i
sthepar
entr
eli
gionofbot
hChr
ist
iani
tyandI
slam.

-
Theset
hreer
eli
gionsar
ecal
l
edAbr
ahami
crel
i
gions.

-
Isl
am i
nsi
stst
hatGodi
soneandnott
ri
nit
yaChr
ist
iansbel
i
eve.

-I
nIsl
am,
Godi
scal
l
edAl
l
ahi
nAr
abi
c.

8
-TheQur
an,
thesacr
edbookf
ort
heMusl
i
mscont
ainst
het
eachi
ngsr
eveal
edt
o
pr
ophetMuhammadf
rom Al
l
ah.

-TheQur
an/Kor
ant
eacht
hatAl
l
ahi
snotdi
vi
ded.

-
Musl
i
mspor
trayJesusasoneoft
hepr
ophet
sandnott
heSonofGod

-
Isl
am begani
nMeccaar
ound610CE

Geogr
aphi
calDi
str
ibut
ionsofRel
i
gionsi
nZi
mbabwe.

-
Dif
fer
entr
eli
giousgr
oupsar
elocat
edi
ndi
ff
erentar
easi
nZi
mbabwe.

-
Chr
ist
iansar
escat
ter
edar
oundt
ownsandt
heyt
endt
omi
xwi
thdi
ff
erent
denomi
nat
ions.

-
ThePr
ovi
nci
alDi
str
ibut
ionofApost
oli
cChur
chheadswasest
abl
i
shedasf
oll
ows

Mashonal
andCent
ral 38%

Mat
ebel
elandSout
h 38%

Mashonal
andEast 37%

Mani
cal
and 36%

Har
are 23%

Bul
away
o 23%

-
Mai
nli
nechur
chesl
i
keRomanCat
hol
i
c,pr
otest
ant
sandPent
ecost
alsar
easf
oll
ows

Mashonal
andCent
ral 19%

Bul
away
o 59%

Mi
dlands 52%

Mashonal
andWest 39%

9
Mani
cal
and 39%

Mat
ebel
eland 40%

Mashonal
andEast 38%

Thesur
veyal
soshowedt
hatby2014,
thedi
str
ibut
ionofI
ndi
genousRel
i
giousheadsof
househol
dwasl
argel
yconcent
rat
edi
nMashonal
andcent
ral
.

Mashonal
andCent
ral 73%

Mat
ebel
elandSout
h 64%

Har
areMet
ropol
i
tan 37%

Bul
away
oMet
ropol
i
tan 37%

Mi
dlands 41%

Masv
ingo 49%

Mat
ebel
elandNor
th 58%

Mashonal
andWest 56%

Mashonal
andEast 58%

Mani
cal
and 54%

-
Afur
theranal
ysi
sshowedt
hatMusl
i
mswer
emai
nlyconcent
rat
edi
nmaj
orci
ti
esand
t
hel
argestnumberbei
ngi
nHar
are,
Bel
veder
ear
eawher
ether
eist
heI
slam Cul
tur
al
I
nst
it
ute.

Ri
tual
sinr
eli
gions

10
I
ndi
genousr
eli
gion

-
Rel
i
giousr
it
ual
scanbedef
inedasanagr
edonandf
ormal
i
zedpat
ter
nofcer
emoni
al
mov
ement
sandv
erbal
expr
essi
onscar
ri
edouti
nasacr
edcont
ext
.

-Ri
tual
sexpr
essandcommuni
cat
esev
eral
lev
elsofmeani
ngsi
nthesoci
ety

I
mpor
tanceofr
it
ual
s

1.Theycommemor
atesi
gni
fi
cantev
ent
sinl
i
feofi
ndi
vi
dual
sandcommuni
ti
es

2.Theypr
ovi
demeansofr
enewi
ngt
hemeani
ngoft
hoseev
ent
s

3.Theyhel
pindi
vi
dual
sandcommuni
ti
est
omakesenseofl
i
fe’
str
ansi
ti
onf
rom
onest
ageofl
i
fet
oanot
her
.

4.Theyal
somakeeasyt
hemov
ementf
rom t
hef
ami
l
iart
otheunknowneg
chi
l
dhoodt
oadul
thood.

Ty
pesofr
it
ual
s

1.Bi
rt
hRi
tual
s.

-
Thesear
eamongt
hemosti
mpor
tantr
it
ual
sinaper
son’
sli
fe

-
Theysi
gnal
thebegi
nni
ngoft
her
hyt
hm ofl
i
fe

-Onceaper
soni
sbor
n,t
her
ear
emanyr
it
ual
sassoci
atedwi
tht
hebi
rt
hofaper
sonand
t
heyv
aryf
rom oner
egi
ont
oanot
her
.

I
nit
iat
ioni
ntoadul
thood/
Rit
esofpassage

-
Iti
sacel
ebr
ati
onoft
hepassagewhi
choccur
swheni
ndi
vi
dual
leav
esonegr
oupt
o
ent
eranot
her
.

-I
tinv
olv
esasi
gni
fi
cantchangeofst
atusi
nsoci
ety
.

-Ther
it
esofpassagepr
ovi
det
heAf
ri
canwi
tht
hef
oundat
ionofhi
s/herbei
ngi
dent
it
y
t
hati
ssexual
ident
it
yandt
her
olesofgenderi
dent
it
y.

11
-
Mal
esar
epr
epar
edf
ort
hei
rresponsi
bil
i
tyi
nthenat
ionandf
emal
espr
epar
edf
ort
hei
r
r
esponsi
bil
i
tyi
nthenat
ionaswomenwi
thnoconf
usi
on.

-Amongr
it
esofpassage,
ini
ti
ati
onwasofpar
ti
cul
ari
mpor
tance.

-Thepr
ocessanddet
ail
sofi
nit
iat
iondi
ff
eramongsoci
eti
es.

-Theser
it
espr
ovi
dei
ndi
vi
dual
swi
thi
nst
ruct
ionsaboutwhatwi
l
lbeexpect
edoft
hem
dur
ingnextphaseoft
hei
rli
ves.

-Gi
rl
sar
etr
ainedonbei
ngr
esponsi
bleandgoodmot
her
s.

-Theyar
etaughtt
hei
mpor
tantaspect
sofhowt
obeagoodwi
fewhoi
sabl
etosat
isf
y
t
hei
rhusbandandr
aisechi
l
drenpr
oper
ly.

-Boy
sar
erequi
redt
opr
ovet
hei
rpowerandhunt
ingski
l
ls.

-I
nsomecasest
her
eisci
rcumci
sionf
orboy
sandf
emal
egeni
tal
mut
il
ati
onf
orgi
rl
s
t
hought
hispr
act
icei
sdi
scour
agedandhasr
educed.

-Theser
it
ual
sar
eal
soaccompani
edbycer
emoni
aldr
ummi
nganddance

Mar
ri
ageRi
tes.

-
Thesei
nvol
venumer
ouspr
act
icest
hatv
aryf
rom onecommuni
tyt
otheot
her
.

-Formar
ri
age,
ther
ear
etaboosandsomet
imesv
irgi
nit
ytest
s.

-Somer
it
esar
etoensur
efer
ti
li
ty.

-Ther
eissi
ngi
ngt
owel
comet
hebr
ide.

-Somer
it
esi udekuper
ncl ekaandmanyot
herr
it
es.

Ty
pes/
For
msofMar
ri
age

-I
nZi
mbabweansoci
eti
es,
mar
ri
agei
sessent
ial
l
yacont
ractbet
weenf
ami
l
iesandnota
cont
ractbet
weent
wopeopl
e.

1.Kut
izaMukumbo

12
-
Int
hist
ypeofmar
ri
age,
thegi
rldeci
dest
oel
opeorsecr
etl
ydi
sappearf
rom herhome
andgot
othehomeofherl
ove.

2.Musengaber
e

-
Thi
siswher
ebyt
hegi
rli
sei
therpi
ckedorconv
incedt
ogot
otheboy
’shousewhenshe
i
sadi
stancef
rom home.

-Theboyor
gani
zesmenwhowi
l
lcar
ryher
.

-Usual
l
ytheyambushherwhenshei
sonherwayt
ofet
chwat
erorwhenshei
s
t
rav
ell
i
ngal
oneandsomedi
stancef
rom herhome.

3.Kukumbi
ra

-
Int
hist
ypeofmar
ri
age,
theboyf
oll
owsal
lthepr
ocedur
esaboutmar
ri
age.

-
ANhumeorr
epr
esent
ati
vef
rom t
heboy
’shomei
ssendt
othegi
rl
’shomeusual
l
yint
he
t
wil
i
ghthour
sandaskf
orahandi
nmar
ri
age.

-I
fthegi
rlconf
ir
msknowl
edgeoft
heboy
,theNhumei
sgi
venwat
ert
odr
inkasasi
gn
t
hathi
srequesthasbeengr
ant
edandt
hemar
ri
agepr
ocedur
esbegi
ns.

4.Kut
emaugar
ir
i/ser
vicemar
ri
age

-
Thi
siswher
ebyapoorboywor
kforaper
iodofat
imeatt
hegi
rl
’shomeandbegi
ven
hi
swi
fe.

-Thewor
kwi
l
lbet
hef
orm ofpay
ment
.

5.Kuzv
ari
ra

-
Thi
sty
peofmar
ri
agei
snol
ongercommont
heseday
s

-I
nthi
sty
peofmar
ri
age,
par
ent
swoul
dgi
vet
hei
rchi
l
dreni
nmar
ri
agebef
oret
heyar
e
bor
n.

6.Chi
mut
samapf
ihwa

13
-
Int
hist
ypeofmar
ri
age,
ift
hewi
fedi
es,
ther
eist
hebel
i
eft
hatf
ir
ehasst
oppedbur
ning
i
nthehomeandt
hepar
ent
soft
hewi
feor
gani
zeawi
feei
thert
hesi
steroft
hedeceased
orsomeonecl
osert
ogoandr
eki
ndl
ethef
ir
eatt
hewi
dowedman’
shome.

Deat
hRi
tual
s

-
Ini
ndi
genousr
eli
gion,
deat
hist
hesepar
ati
onoft
hespi
ri
torsoul
from t
hebody
.

-Deat
hisassoci
atedwi
tht
hebi
rt
htospi
ri
tual
li
fe.

-Whenaper
sondi
es,
hecont
inuest
oexi
sti
nthespi
ri
tual
wor
ld(
Nyi
kadzi
mu)
.

-I
ndi
genousbel
i
ever
s,bel
i
evet
hatdeat
hdoesnotj
usthappenbuti
thasanext
ernal
cause.

-Thi
smeanst
hat
,deat
hhasbot
hnat
ural
andunnat
ural
causes.

-Deat
hcanbecausedbymagi
c,sor
cer
yandwi
tchcr
aft
.

-Cur
sescanal
socausedeat
h.

-Deat
h,mour
ningandber
eav
ementar
etakenser
iousl
yini
ndi
genousr
eli
gion.

-
Ther
ear
esev
eral
myt
hs/
stor
iesaboutt
heor
igi
nofdeat
h.
-
Int
hesest
ori
es,Goddi
dnoti
ntendf
orhumanki
ndt
odi
e,hegav
etodi
ff
erentani
mal
s
pr
event
ivesofdeat
htot
akehumans,i
neachst
oryt
heappoi
ntedani
maldi
dnotgett
o
humanki
ndont
imeasr
esul
tdeat
hcamei
ntot
hewor
ld.
-
Tradi
ti
onal
i
stsconsi
derdeat
hasi
nev
itabl
e.
-
Iti
stheul
ti
mat
eendofev
erycr
eat
edbei
ng.
-
Ther
efor
e,l
i
femustbespentwi
sel
yandr
espect
ful
l
y.
-
Deat
hisf
ear
edbecausei
tphy
sical
l
ysnat
chesaper
sonf
rom hi
s/hercommuni
ty.
-
Thedeceasedi
sdepr
ivedf
rom aphy
sical
communal
li
feandact
ivi
ty.
-
Adeat
h,i
tisgener
all
ybel
i
evedt
hatt
hespi
ri
tleav
est
hebodyandassumesaspi
ri
t
exi
stence,
andt
hebur
iedbodydecay
sint
hegr
ave.
The“
gooddead”spi
ri
tcont
inuest
obegood.Undert
hiscat
egor
yfal
ltheancest
orsand
t
hosewhodi
dnotper
for
m her
oicact
stoat
tai
nancest
orshi
pbutdi
dleadadecentand

14
pr
aisewor
thyl
i
fe.
-The“
baddead”spi
ri
tisbel
i
evedt
obecomeev
ilandmaybecomeaghostandt
auntt
he
l
i
ving.
-
FormostTr
adi
ti
onal
i
sts,t
hegr
aveappear
stobe,t
hesealofev
ery
thi
ng,ev
eni
fa
per
sonsur
viv
esandcont
inuest
oexi
sti
nthenextwor
ld.
-I
nrel
i
gionsofAf
ri
ca,
li
fedoesnotendwi
thdeat
h,butcont
inuesi
nanot
herr
eal
m.
-
Tradi
ti
onal
i
stsbel
i
evet
hatt
hosewhoar
edeadar
enev
ergonebutar
ethet
hickeni
ng
shadow,
woodt
hatgr
oans,
andar
eint
hef
ir
ethati
sdr
ying,
for
estandi
nthehouse.
1.Kupet
aRi
tual
.
-
Thi
sisf
oundamongt
heShonabel
i
efs.
-
Thi
siswher
ebysomeonehasper
siv
edt
obenearhi
s/herdeat
hismov
edout
side
hi
s/herhomest
ead.
-
Thepl
acecoul
dbeofhi
s/herson,
soni
n-l
aworsomecl
oser
elat
iveawayf
rom chi
l
dren
andot
her
sint
hev
il
lage.
-Ver
ycl
osepeopl
ewi
l
lbeawar
eofhi
s/herwher
eabout
sandwi
l
lbet
heonl
ypeopl
eto
v
isi
t.
2.Kur
idzaMher
e(Chema)
.
-
Whenaper
sondi
esev
eryf
ami
l
ymemberoft
hedeceasedi
snot
if
ied.
-I
tisbel
i
evedt
hati
fthef
ami
l
ymemberi
snotnot
if
ied,he/
sheexper
iencesmy
sti
cal
mi
sfor
tuneegget
ti
nghi
tbyacar
,get
ti
ngt
ir
edet
c,
3.Kubat
aMaoko.
-Peopl
ear
ound t
henei
ghbour
hood/
communi
tygoest
othef
uner
alt
o show t
hei
r
sy
mpat
hy.
-Theybr
ingwi
tht
hem chema/
tokenofsy
mpat
hy.

4.Kugezamuf
i/washi
ngr
it
ual
.
-I
tisbel
i
evedt
hatt
hedeceasedhast
obecl
eanbef
oreembar
kingt
hej
our
ney
.
-
Theper
soni
swashedt
obecomecl
ean.
-Thenephew,
niece(
Muzukur
u)oft
hedeceasedort
hesahwi
rabat
hst
hem.
5.Kur
ovaguv
acer
emony
/magadzi
ro

Thecer
emonyi
sknownbydi
ff
erentnames amongt
heShonasub-
cul
tur
algr
oupse.
g

15
kar
anga-
magadzi
ro,
kugadzi
ra mudzi
mu, Zezur
u-kur
ova guv
a (
to beat t
he
gr
ave)
,kor
ekor
ekut
ambamudzi
mu,
kut
oramudzi
muorbona.

-
howev
er,t
hecer
emonygener
all
yisper
for
meddur
ingt
hesameseasonoft
hey
eart
o
ser
veacommonf
unct
ion.

-
Somer
it
esmaydi
ff
erher
eandt
her
ebutt
hef
unct
ionofr
it
uali
sthesamei
.e.t
oinv
ite
t
hespi
ri
toft
hedeceasedi
ntot
hef
ami
l
y.

-
Thecer
emonyi
sdi
rect
lyl
i
nkedt
othebur
ialcer
emonyduet
othef
actt
hatwhen t
he
bur
ial cer
emonyi
sbei
ngconduct
ed i
tisdonei
n ant
ici
pat
ion ofper
for
ming t
he
kur
ovaguv
aint
henearf
utur
e.

-I
ttakespl
aceay
earaf
terbur
ial

-
TheShonabel
i
eft
hatt
hebodywi
l
lhav
etocompl
etel
ydecompose.
howev
er,t
her
ear
e
i
nst
anceswher
eitcant
akepl
acei
mmedi
atel
yaf
terbur
ial
.

-
Thi
swoul
dbeduet
osomedi
ff
icul
ti
essur
roundi
ngt
hecondi
ti
onoft
hedeceased'
s
spi
ri
t.

-
Whenaper
sondi
est
heShonabebel
i
evest
hatt
hespi
ri
toft
hedeceasedwonder
sin
t
hewi
l
der
nessawai
ti
ngt
hekur
ovaguv
acer
emony
.

-
Post-
bur
ialper
iodt
hespi
ri
tisconsi
der
eddanger
ousandcanbemani
pul
atedbyev
il
spi
ri
ts.

-
Mushamut
ema-t
her
eisadar
kcl
oudt
hatwonder
sint
hef
ami
l
y.

-
Ther
it
ualcanal
sobehel
daf
termor
ethanoney
eari
nsomecasesaf
ter30t
o40y
ear
s
duet
osev
eral
fact
ors.

1. I
npoorf
ami
l
iest
hiswasmai
nlyduet
olackofl
i
vest
ockespeci
all
ycat
tl
eort
he
scar
cit
yofgr
aint
obr
ewbeerandf
oodt
ofeedpeopl
eatt
hecer
emony
.

2. Somet
imes t
her
e wer
e dr
ought
s whi
ch woul
dfor
ce peopl
eto postpone t
he
cer
emony
.

16
3.Theper
sonmi
ghthav
edi
edi
nadi
stantpl
ace

4r
it
ual
sar
eper
for
medaccor
dingt
ospi
ri
tual
i
tyhencet
heyhav
etowai
tunt
ilt
heseni
or‘
s
kur
ovaguv
ahasbeendone.

5.Fami
l
yconf
li
ctsi
nsomeoft
hem hel
dtodowi
tht
hedecease'
sweal
thandwi
dow.

6.I
nmoder
nday
sthei
mpactofwest
ernr
eli
gious(
Chr
ist
iani
ty)

-
Thecer
emonywashel
ddur
ingt
hedr
yseason(
August
)dr
yseason=r
eli
giousandsoci
al
act
ivi
ti
es.

I
twasseenaf
terhar
vestt
hatf
oodwi
l
lther
efor
ebepl
ent
if
ul.

-
Ther
ewer
ecer
tai
ntaboost
hatwer
esupposedt
ober
espect
edbet
weent
hebur
ialand
t
hekur
ovaguv
acer
emonybyt
hemember
soft
hef
ami
l
ye.
g.Thechi
l
drenwer
enot
supposedt
omar
ry

-
Thespi
ri
tshoul
dbet
her
etobl
esst
hei
rmar
ri
ages

-
Theyal
sowant
edt
opr
eventshockt
othei
ncomi
ngofnewmember
sint
hef
ami
l
y.

-
Youwer
enotsupposedt
otemperwi
tht
heest
ateoft
hedeceasedsi
ncei
twi
l
lhav
eto
wai
tthei
nher
it
ancecer
emonywhi
chi
shel
daf
tert
heKUROVAGUVAcer
emonyandt
his
mi
ghti
ncl
udet
hewi
dow.

-
thewi
dowher
sel
fwasnott
omar
ryori
ndul
gei
nsexualr
elat
ionsunt
ilaf
tert
hekur
ova
guv
aandnhakacer
emony
.

-
ifawi
dow orwi
dowerdeci
dedt
omar
rybef
orekur
ovaguv
acer
emonyt
hat
'sv
iol
ati
on
whi
chr
efer
redt
oas"
kupi
saGuv
a'

Pr
ocedur
est
obet
akeni
nthekur
ovaguv
acer
emony

-
Ther
it
ual
sdi
ff
erf
rom pl
acet
opl
aceandr
egi
ont
oregi
on.

-Theyconsul
tan'
angat
ofi
ndoutt
hepr
ocedur
etheyshoul
dtake.

-Consul
ti
ngan'
angai
sdonet
omakesur
ethatt
her
it
ualwi
l
lbeper
for
medi
nawayt
hat

17
i
saccept
abl
etot
hespi
ri
t.

-
From t
hisst
ageal
lthest
epswi
l
lbedone wi
thamul
tat
ionwi
tht
hedeceased'
sspi
ri
t.

-
ther
it
ual
shoul
dhav
etheappr
oval
oft
hef
ami
l
yspi
ri
ts.

-I
fonewant
stomar
ryt
her
eshoul
dbeconsul
tat
ion.

-
Mil
l
etbeerwi
l
lbebr
ewedby el
der
ly woman who ar
ebey
ond chi
l
dbear
ing st
age
wi
thnosexualr
elat
ions(
kupedzaur
a)

-
shewi
l
lbehel
pedbyt
hesmal
lboy
sandgi
rl
s(pr
e-pubescentboy
sandgi
rl
s)

-
member
s oft
he f
ami
l
yar
e adv
ised nott
o hav
e conf
li
ctwhen pr
epar
ing f
ort
he
cer
emony
.

-
Ont
heev
eni
ngbef
oret
hecer
emonyt
hebeeri
sconcent
rat
edt
othespi
ri
toft
he
deceasedbyt
heel
destmemberoft
hef
ami
l
y.

-
Theconcent
rat
ionmar
ksanal
l
-ni
ghtcel
ebr
ati
ont
hati
nvol
vessi
ngi
nganddanci
ngi
n
honouroft
hespi
ri
t.

-
Musi
cisi
mpor
tantbecausei
tenabl
escommuni
ti
esbet
weent
hel
i
vingandt
hedead
per
son.

-
Thenextmor
ningi
nvol
vesr
it
eofi
nvi
ti
ngt
hespi
ri
tfr
om t
hegr
ave.

-
Thi
sri
tev
ari
esf
rom ar
eat
oar
ea

-
Insomear
east
heyr
emov
eoneort
wost
onesand-
--
--
-ofpor
ri
dgeandbeerar
epour
ed
ont
hef
rontoft
hegr
avet
oinv
itet
hespi
ri
t.

-
Theel
dermemberoft
he f
ami
l
y whowi
l
lbe l
eadi
ng wi
l
lspeak t
othe deceases
aski
ngt
hespi
ri
ttoacceptt
hei
nvi
tat
iont
ocomehome.

-
aft
ert
hist
heent
our
ager
etur
nhomet
odanceandf
east

-
somet
imest
hespi
ri
tissy
mbol
i
zingbr
oughthome.

18
-Fort
heShangwet
heyt
ieabl
ackcl
othar
oundt
heneckofa-
--
--
-ont
he-
--
-bef
oret
he
cer
emonyandt
ake t
hegoodout
side-
thehomest
eadandappr
opr
iat
efunct
ioni
ngwi
l
l
addr
esst
hespi
ri
tthatt
heyar
ebr
ingi
nghomeandsacr
if
icedt
hef
oll
owi
ngday
.

-
Amongt
heShonapeopl
eofNor
thE.Zi
mbabweabr
anchi
scutf
rom acer
emoni
alt
ree
andt
hesev
eredendi
scov
eredt
oav
oidt
hespi
ri
tfr
om escapi
ng.

-Thebr
anchi
sdr
oppedt
othehomest
eadmaki
ngf
ragmentr
estt
other
estt
hespi
ri
t.

-
Thespi
ri
tiscool
edbypour
ingbeeri
ntoabr
anch.

-
Thebr
anchi
sti
edt
othewal
loft
hehouseoft
hef
ami
l
yhead.

-
Amongt
heKor
ekor
eapat
hwayi
smadebet
weent
hegr
aveandt
hehomest
eadt
o
pr
ovi
det
hespi
ri
tint
oar
oadt
otr
avel
asi
trej
oinst
hef
ami
l
y.

-
amongt
he Shonat
her
eisneedt
ogot
othegr
aveear
lyi
nthe mor
ning t
hespi
ri
tis
i
nvi
ted bymember
soft
hef
ami
l
y bypour
ingwat
eront
hebackofagoataddr
essi
ng
t
hespi
ri
toft
hedeceasedt
ocomehome.

-I
fthespi
ri
taccept
sthei
nvi
tat
iont
hegoatwoul
dshakei
tsbodyv
igor
ousl
y.

-
Thegoati
ssl
aught
eredandt
hemeati
sroast
edandeat
enwi
thoutsal
t.

Si
gni
fi
canceoft
hecer
emony

1.I
tbr
ingshopeandconf
idencei
ntot
hef
ami
l
yconsi
der
ingt
heunpr
edi
ctabi
l
ityof
t
hespi
ri
toft
hedeceased.

2.I
tmar
kst
heendofmour
ningi
nthehomest
eadwhi
chi
sref
err oasmusha
edt
mut
ema

Thewi
dowwi
l
lnol
ongerv
eilherheadwi
thbl
ackcl
othorweart
hesy
mbol
i
cbl
ack
dr
essofmour
ning-r
etur
ntomour
ning.

3.I
tresol
vespr
obl
emsand t
ensi
onscaused bydeat
hby….
.thespi
ri
toft
he
deceasedamongt
hef
ami
l
y'sspi
ri
tguar
dians.Thel
i
vingandt
hedeadwoul
d

19
 hav
erest
rengt
henedt
hei
rcowar
dicer
elat
ionshi
p.

4.I
tal
l
owsoneoft
hemosti
mpor
tantr
it
ual
sinShonacul
tur
etot
akepl
acei
.e.
i
nher
it
ancecer
emony"
NHAKA"

5.f
rom agener
alpoi
ntofv
iewt
hecer
emonycel
ebr
atesshonar
eli
giouspr
act
ices
andcommuni
ti
esandr
euni
test
hepeopl
etot
hef
undament
alt
radi
ti
onoft
hei
r
cul
tur
e

6.i
tst
rengt
hensr
elat
ionshi
p-t
iesasbot
hcl
oseanddi
stantr
elat
ivesconv
ergeat
onepl
acef
oracommonpur
pose.Soi
treaf
fi
rmssoci
alt
ies.

CHANGE-t
hecer
emonyhasbeenr
epl
acedbymemor
ial
ser
vice-
Chr
ist
iani
ty.

Ri
tual
sinJudai
sm.

-
InJudai
sm,
rit
ual
sandr
eli
giousobser
vancesar
egr
oundedi
nJewi
shl hal
aw( akhah,
li
t.
"
thepat
honewal
ks.

-Hal
akhahgov
ernsnotj
ustr
eli
giousl
i
fe,
butdai
l
yli
fe,
from howt
odr
esst
owhatt
oeat
t
ohowt
ohel
pthepoor
.

-Obser
vanceofhal
akhahshowsgr
ati
tudet
oGod,
prov
idesasenseofJewi
shi
dent
it
y
andbr
ingst
hesacr
edi
ntoev
ery
dayl
i
fe.

-
Inaddi
ti
on,
theJewi
shr
eli
gionr
ecogni
zessev
eral
signi
fi
cantoccasi
onsi
naper
son'
s
l
i
fe.

-
Whi
l
emanyt
imest
hei
ndi
vi
dual
ist
hef
ocusoft
hef
est
ivi
ti
es,
thef
ami
l
y,andi
nmany
casest
heent
ir
ecommuni
ty,
par
ti
ci
pat
eint
hecommemor
ati
on.

-
Thesespeci
alev
ent
sar
esomeoft
hemosti
mpor
tantpr
act
icesofJudai
sm.

Bi
rt
hRi
tual
s

-
Int
heJewi
shf
ait
hchi
l
drenar
eagi
ftandabl
essi
ngf
rom God.

20
-Obser
vantJewsconsi
deranewmot
hert
obeuncl
ean,
andt
husshemustpur
if
y
her
sel
fbyi
mmer
sioni
nami
kveh(
ri
tual
bat
h)af
terapr
escr
ibedt
ime.
-Fort
henewbor
nther
ear
etwor
it
ual
sthatt
akepl
ace,
theBr
itMi
l
ahandt
heBr
itHabat
.
-TheBr
itMi
l
ah,
orcov
enantoft
hecut
ti
ng,
iscel
ebr
atedwi
thJewi
shboy
sei
ghtday
s
af
tert
hei
rbi
rt
h.
-Dur
ingt
hecer
emonyt
hebabyboyi
sci
rcumci
sedbyahi
ghl
ytr
ainedmohel
int
he
pr
esenceofagr
oupof10peopl
e,ami
nyan.
-Thegodmot
herpr
esent
sthebabywhi
chi
sthenpl
acedonahi
ghl
yor
nat
eseatcal
l
ed
t
heChai
rofEl
i
jah
-Theci
rcumci
sioni
sper
for
medbyt
hemohel
usi
ngai
zamel
(ri
tual
kni
fe)
.
-Ci
rcumci
sioni
soneoft
he613mi
tzv
ot(
commandment
s)andi
sseenast
hephy
sical
mar
koft
hecov
enantbet
weenGodandAbr
aham.
-Att
hecompl
eti
onoft
hecer
emonyt
heKi
ddushi
sreci
tedandt
hebabyi
sgi
venhi
s
f
ormal
Hebr
ewname.

Mar
ri
ageRi
tual
s.

-
Asi
nal
cul
tur
esandel
i
gions,
inJudai
sm,
mar
ri
agei
sav
eryspeci
aloccasi
on.
-Themostwel
l
-knownJewi
shmar
ri
agecust
omsar
ethemar
ri
ageandbr
eaki
ngofa
gl
asst
oseal
themar
ri
agebond.
-I
tist
hef
ulf
il
li
ngofGod’
spl
anf
orhumanbei
ngs.
-Themar
ri
agecer
emonyi
susual
l
yaccompani
edbysi
ngi
ngoft
heKet
ubahwhi
chi
sa
Jewi
shmar
ri
agecont
ractwhi
chi
ssi
gnedbyt
wowi
tnesses.
-Theyar
eusual
l
yconduct
edbyaHuppah.
-Thebr
idewal
ksar
oundt
hegr
oom sev
ent
imes.
-TheRabbi
reci
tesbl
essi
ngsov
ert
hewi
neandgi
vei
ttot
hegr
oom andt
hebr
ode.
-Ther
eispl
acementoft
her
ingandt
her
eadi
ngoft
heKet
ubahbyaRabbi
oran
honour
edguest
.
-Sev
enbl
essi
ngsar
esai
dandt
her
eist
hebr
eaki
ngofagl
ass.
.
.
Deat
hRi
tual
sinJudai
sm.

21
-
InJudai
sm,
deat
hisnotat
ragedy
,ev
enwheni
toccur
sear
lyi
nli
feort
hrough
unf
ort
unat
eci
rcumst
ances.Deat
hisanat
ural
process.

-Ourdeat
hs,
li
keourl
i
ves,
hav
emeani
ngandar
eal
lpar
tofGod'
spl
an.

-I
naddi
ti
on,
wehav
eaf
ir
m bel
i
efi
nanaf
ter
li
fe,
awor
ldt
ocome,
wher
ethosewhohav
e
l
i
vedawor
thyl
i
fewi
l
lber
ewar
ded.

-
Mour
ningpr
act
icesi
nJudai
sm ar
eext
ensi
ve,
butt
heyar
enotanexpr
essi
onoff
earor
di
stast
efordeat
h.

-Jewi
shpr
act
icesr
elat
ingt
odeat
handmour
ninghav
etwopur
poses:
toshowr
espect
f
ort
hedead(
kav
odha-
met
),andt
ocomf
ortt
hel
i
ving(
nihum av
eli
m),
whowi
l
lmi
sst
he
deceased.

-
Aft
eraper
sondi
es,
theey
esar
ecl
osed,
thebodyi
slai
dont
hef
loorandcov
ered,
and
candl
esar
eli
tnextt
othebody
.

-
Thebodyi
snev
erl
eftal
oneunt
ilaf
terbur
ial
,asasi
gnofr
espect
.

-
Thepeopl
ewhosi
twi
tht
hedeadbodyar
ecal
l
edshomer
im,
from t
her
ootShi
n-Mem-
Rei
sh,
meani
ng"
guar
ds"or"
keeper
s".

-Respectf
ort
hedeadbodyi
samat
terofpar
amounti
mpor
tance.Forexampl
e,t
he
shomer
im maynoteat
,dr
ink,
orper
for
m acommandmenti
nthepr
esenceoft
hedead.

-Todosowoul
dbeconsi
der
edmocki
ngt
hedead,
becauset
hedeadcannol
ongerdo
t
heset
hings.

-
Inpr
epar
ati
onf
ort
hebur
ial
,thebodyi
sthor
oughl
ycl
eanedandwr
appedi
nasi
mpl
e,
pl
ainl
i
nenshr
oud.

-
TheSagesdecr
eedt
hatbot
hthedr
essoft
hebodyandt
hecof
fi
nshoul
dbesi
mpl
e,so
t
hatapoorper
sonwoul
dnotr
ecei
vel
esshonori
ndeat
hthanar
ichper
son.

22
-Thebodymustnotbecr
emat
ed.

-
Itmustbebur
iedi
ntheear
th.

-Cof
fi
nsar
enotr
equi
red,
buti
ftheyar
eused,
theymusthav
ehol
esdr
il
ledi
nthem so
t
hebodycomesi
ncont
actwi
tht
heear
th.

-Thebodyi
snev
erdi
spl
ayedatf
uner
als;
opencasketcer
emoni
esar
efor
biddenby
Jewi
shl
aw.

-
Accor
dingt
oJewi
shl
aw,
exposi
ngabodyi
sconsi
der
eddi
srespect
ful
,becausei
t
al
l
owsnotonl
yfr
iends,
butal
soenemi
est
ovi
ewt
hedead,
mocki
ngt
hei
rhel
plessst
ate.

Mour
ning

-
Jewi
shmour
ningpr
act
icescanbebr
okeni
ntosev
eral
per
iodsofdecr
easi
ngi
ntensi
ty.

-
Thesemour
ningper
iodsal
l
owt
hef
ull
expr
essi
onofgr
ief
,whi
l
edi
scour
agi
ngexcesses
ofgr
iefandal
l
owi
ngt
hemour
nert
ogr
adual
l
yret
urnt
oanor
mal
li
fe.

-Whenacl
oser
elat
ive(
par
ent
,si
bli
ng,
spouseorchi
l
d)f
ir
sthear
soft
hedeat
hofa
r
elat
ive,
iti
str
adi
ti
onal
toexpr
esst
hei
nit
ial
gri
efbyt
ear
ingone'
scl
othi
ng.

-
Thet
eari
smadeov
ert
hehear
tift
hedeceasedi
sapar
ent
,orov
ert
her
ightsi
deoft
he
chestf
orot
herr
elat
ives.

-
Thi
stear
ingoft
hecl
othi
ngi
sref
err
edt
oasker
iyah(
li
t."
tear
ing"
).Themour
nerr
eci
tes
t
hebl
essi
ngdescr
ibi
ngGodas"
thet
rueJudge,
"anaccept
anceofG-
d'st
aki
ngoft
hel
i
fe
ofar
elat
ive.

-
From t
het
imeofdeat
htot
hebur
ial
,themour
ner
'ssol
eresponsi
bil
i
tyi
scar
ingf
ort
he
deceasedandpr
epar
ingf
ort
hebur
ial
.T

-
hisper
iodi
sknownasani
nut
.

23
-
Dur
ingt
hist
ime,
themour
ner
sar
eexemptf
rom al
lposi
ti
vecommandment
s("
thou
shal
ts"
),becauset
hepr
epar
ati
onst
akef
ir
stpr
ior
it
y.

-
Thi
sper
iodusual
l
ylast
sadayort
wo;
Judai
sm r
equi
respr
omptbur
ial
.

-
Dur
ingt
hisani
nutper
iod,
thef
ami
l
yshoul
dbel
eftal
oneandal
l
owedt
hef
ull
expr
essi
on
ofgr
ief
.Condol
encecal
l
sorv
isi
tsshoul
dnotbemadedur
ingt
hist
ime.

-
Aft
ert
hebur
ial
,acl
oser
elat
ive,
nearnei
ghbororf
ri
endpr
epar
est
hef
ir
stmeal
fort
he
mour
ner
s,t
hese'
udathav
ra'
ah(
meal
ofcondol
ence)
.

-
Thi
smeal
tradi
ti
onal
l
yconsi
stsofeggs(
asy
mbol
ofl
i
fe)andbr
ead.

-
Themeal
isf
ort
hef
ami
l
yonl
y,notf
orv
isi
tor
s.Af
tert
hist
ime,
condol
encecal
l
sar
e
per
mit
ted.

-Thenextper
iodofmour
ningi
sknownasshi
va(
sev
en,
becausei
tlast
ssev
enday
s).

-
Shi
vai
sobser
vedbypar
ent
s,chi
l
dren,
spousesandsi
bli
ngsoft
hedeceased,
pref
erabl
y
al
ltoget
heri
nthedeceased'
shome.

-
Shi
vabegi
nsont
hedayofbur
ial
andcont
inuesunt
ilt
hemor
ningoft
hesev
ent
hday
af
terbur
ial
.

-
Mour
ner
ssi
tonl
owst
ool
sort
hef
loori
nst
eadofchai
rs,
donotwearl
eat
hershoes,
do
notshav
eorcutt
hei
rhai
r,donotwearcosmet
ics,
donotwor
k,anddonotdot
hingsf
or
comf
ortorpl
easur
e,suchasbat
he,
hav
esex,
putonf
reshcl
othi
ng,
orst
udyTor
ah
(
exceptTor
ahr
elat
edt
omour
ningandgr
ief
).

-
Mour
ner
sweart
hecl
othest
hatt
heyt
oreatt
het
imeofl
ear
ningoft
hedeat
horatt
he
f
uner
al.Mi
rr
orsi
nthehousear
ecov
ered.

-
Pray
erser
vicesar
ehel
dwher
etheshi
vai
shel
d,wi
thf
ri
ends,
nei
ghbor
sandr
elat
ives
maki
ngupt
hemi
nyan(
10peopl
erequi
redf
orcer
tai
npr
ayer
s).

24
-I
faf
est
ival
occur
sdur
ingt
hemour
ningper
iod,
themour
ningi
ster
minat
ed,
buti
fthe
bur
ial
occur
sdur
ingaf
est
ival
,themour
ningi
sdel
ayedunt
ilaf
tert
hef
est
ival
.

-
TheShabbatt
hatoccur
sdur
ingt
heshi
vaper
iodcount
stowar
dthesev
enday
sofshi
va,
anddoesnotendt
hemour
ningper
iod.

-Publ
i
cmour
ningpr
act
ices(
suchaswear
ingt
het
orncl
othes,
notwear
ingshoes)ar
e
suspendeddur
ingt
hisper
iod,
butpr
ivat
emour
ningcont
inues.

-Thenextper
iodofmour
ningi
sknownasshl
oshi
m(t
hir
ty,
becausei
tlast
sunt
ilt
he
30t
hdayaf
terbur
ial
).

-Dur
ingt
hatper
iod,
themour
ner
sdonotat
tendpar
ti
esorcel
ebr
ati
ons,
donotshav
eor
cutt
hei
rhai
r,anddonotl
i
stent
omusi
c.

-
Thef
inal
per
iodoff
ormal
mour
ningi
sav
elut
,whi
chi
sobser
vedonl
yforapar
ent
.

-Thi
sper
iodl
ast
sfort
wel
vemont
hsaf
tert
hebur
ial
.-Dur
ingt
hatt
ime,
mour
ner
sav
oid
par
ti
es,
cel
ebr
ati
ons,
theat
erandconcer
ts.

-Forel
evenmont
hsoft
hatper
iod,
star
ti
ngatt
het
imeofbur
ial
,thesonoft
hedeceased
r
eci
test
hemour
ner
'sKaddi
shev
eryday
.

-Af
tert
heav
elutper
iodi
scompl
ete,
thef
ami
l
yoft
hedeceasedi
snotper
mit
tedt
o
cont
inuef
ormal
mour
ning;
howev
er,
ther
ear
eaf
ewcont
inui
ngacknowl
edgment
soft
he
decedent
.

-
Ever
yyear
,ont
heanni
ver
sar
yoft
hedeat
h,f
ami
l
ymember
sobser
vet
hedeceased'
s
Yahr
zei
t(Yi
ddi
sh,
li
t."
anni
ver
sar
y")
.

-Whenv
isi
ti
ngamour
ner
,aguestshoul
dnott
ryt
oexpr
essgr
iefwi
thst
andar
d,shal
l
ow
pl
ati
tudes.

-Whenl
eav
ingahouseofmour
ning,
iti
str
adi
ti
onal
fort
heguestt
osay
,"Mayt
heLor
d
comf
orty
ouwi
thal
lthemour
ner
sofZi
onandJer
usal
em.
"

25
Ri
tual
sinChr
ist
iani
ty.

Bi
rt
hRi
tual
s.

-
Whenachi
l
disbor
nint
heChr
ist
iancommuni
ty,
theyf
oll
owt
hreer
it
ual
s/r
it
esof
passages.

-Thef
ir
stev
err
it
ual
orcer
emonyt
hataChr
ist
ianwi
l
lgot
hroughi
sal
way
sgoi
ngt
obe
r
elat
edt
obi
rt
h.--Thecel
ebr
ati
onsconsi
stsof
:Nami
ngCer
emony
,Dedi
cat
ionand
I
nfantBapt
ism.

Nami
ngCer
emony
-
Whenachi
l
disnamedt
obecomeauni
quehumanbei
ng.

-Thef
ami
l
yandr
elat
ivesoft
henew-
bor
nchi
l
dwi
l
lgat
heri
ntot
hechur
cht
ocel
ebr
ate
t
heof
fspr
ing.
-Thepast
erwi
l
lpr
eacht
hel
ord'
swor
dst
obenour
ishedi
ntot
hechi
l
d.

-Thepar
entoft
hechi
l
dmaychoosef
rom abi
blev
erset
ober
eadoutl
oudt
othei
r
chi
l
d.
Exodus2:1-
10t
hebi
rt
hadopt
ionandnami
ngofMoses;
1Samuel1:19-
28t
hebi
rt
h
nami
ngandof
fer
ingofSamuelt
oGod;
Mar
k10:13-
16t
hebl
essi
ngofchi
ldr
enby
Jesus;Luke1:59-
66t
henami
ngofJohnt
hebapt
ist
;Luke2:21-
28t
henami
ngof
Jesusandhi
spr
esent
ati
oni
ntheTempl
e.
-Thepar
ent
swi
l
lchooseauni
quenamef
ort
hechi
l
d.
-Yourf
ami
l
ywi
l
lgat
herwi
l
lpeopl
ewhohav
eat
tendedt
hecer
emonyandr
ecei
vegi
ft
s
f
rom t
hem.
Dedi
cat
ion
-
WhenaChr
ist
ianf
ami
l
ypr
ayst
ogod,
dedi
cat
ingt
hei
rchi
l
d'sf
utur
eundergod.

-Theywi
l
lmakededi
cat
ionst
hatt
hei
rchi
l
dwi
l
lli
veundergod'
swi
l
l.

-Thechi
l
dwi
l
lthenbecomeeducat
edi
ngod'
sway
sandgod'
swor
ds.

-Thej
oboft
hepar
ent
saf
termaki
ngt
hei
rdedi
cat
ioni
stoeducat
ethei
rchi
l
dunder

26
god'
swi
l
landt
eacht
hei
rchi
l
danddemonst
rat
egod'
sway
s.

-Thet
eachi
ngwi
l
lfi
nishandt
her
esponsi
bil
i
ty(
bur
den)oft
hepar
ent
'swi
l
lpassont
o
t
hechi
l
d.Unt
ilt
hen,
thepar
ent
smustear
nest
lypr
ayf
ort
hei
rchi
l
dandl
eadt
hem t
othe
cor
rectway
.

-Theywi
l
lthenmaket
hei
rvowsandt
hededi
cat
ionser
vicewi
l
lbeov
er.Af
tert
his
cer
emony
,thechi
l
dwi
l
lbeundergod.

Bapt
ism
-Dur
ingaChr
ist
ianchr
ist
eni
ng,
thepar
ent
soft
hechi
l
dwi
l
lof
tenmaket
hei
r
decl
arat
ions.

-Thesi
gni
fi
cantpar
toft
hiscer
emony
/ri
tual
ist
hatt
hechi
l
disbapt
izedwi
thhol
ywat
er.
Thi
swasst
art
edmanyy
ear
sagoandnowi
sasy
mbol
ofchr
ist
.

-Thent
hecandl
ewi
l
lbepassedon,
symbol
i
zingt
hatJesushasl
i
ght
enedt
hisear
th.
Thepar
ent
swi
l
lbeaskedt
olear
nthei
mpor
tanceofbapt
ism andmaket
hei
rvows.

-Thepr
evi
ouscer
emoni
es-Nami
ngCer
emonyandDedi
cat
ion-ar
epar
toft
hebapt
ism
cer
emony
.Thepar
ent
smaket
hei
rdedi
cat
iont
hatt
hechi
l
dwi
l
lgr
owupl
ear
ningt
heone
andonl
ygod'
sway
s.

-Fol
l
owi
ngt
hat
,theChi
l
dwi
l
lbespr
inkl
edwi
thhol
ywat
erandr
ecei
vehi
sChr
ist
ian
name.

-Thecer
emonywi
l
lconsi
stofoneormor
echi
l
drenwi
l
li
ngt
obebapt
ized.

-Byhav
inghol
ywat
erspr
inkl
edov
ert
hei
rheads,
itsy
mbol
i
zest
hei
rsi
nsbei
ngwashed
away
.

-I
nthi
spar
ti
cul
arcer
emony
,thegodpar
ent
swi
l
lal
soat
tend.

-Theywi
l
lal
somaket
hei
rvowsandpr
omi
segodt
oleadt
hechi
l
dthoughgod'
swor
ds.
I
fany
thi
ngwer
etohappent
othechi
l
d'spar
ent
s,t
hegodpar
ent
swi
l
lcomehav
ethe
r
esponsi
bil
i
tyt
otakecar
eoft
hechi
l
d.

27
Mar
ri
agei
nChr
ist
iani
ty

-
Mar
ri
agei
sthel
egal
l
yorf
ormal
l
yrecogni
zedi
nti
mat
eandcompl
ement
inguni
onoft
wo
peopl
easspousal
par
tner
sinaper
sonal
rel
ati
onshi
p.

Thebasi
cel
ement
sofamar
ri
agear
e:(
1)t
hepar
ti
es'
legal
abi
l
ityt
omar
ryeachot
her
,
(
2)mut
ual
consentoft
hepar
ti
es,
and(
3)amar
ri
agecont
ractasr
equi
redbyl
aw.

-
Accor
dingt
omanyChr
ist
iandenomi
nat
ions,
Chr
ist
ianmar
ri
agei
stheuni
onbet
weena
manandawoman,
inst
it
utedandor
dai
nedbyGodast
hel
i
fel
ongr
elat
ionshi
pbet
ween
onemanashusband,
andonewomanaswi
fe.

-TheApost
lePaul
gav
easi
mil
ardi
rect
ivewhenhewr
ote,
"Letmar
ri
agebehel
dinhonor
amongal
l
".

-Conser
vat
iveChr
ist
iansconsi
dermar
ri
ageast
hemosti
nti
mat
eofhuman
r
elat
ionshi
ps,
agi
ftf
rom God,
andasacr
edi
nst
it
uti
on.

-Pr
otest
ant
sconsi
deri
ttobesacr
ed,
hol
y,andcent
ral
tot
hecommuni
tyoff
ait
h.
Cat
hol
i
csandEast
ernOr
thodoxChr
ist
iansconsi
dermar
ri
ageaSacr
ament
.

-Thoughi
tispr
esumedt
hatJesusnev
ermar
ri
ed,
Het
aughtt
hei
mpor
tanceand
sacr
ednessofl
i
fel
ongmar
ri
age.

-Hequot
edf
rom bot s1and2[Matthew19:3-5]t
hGenesi hatGodhadcr
eat
edhumani
tyas
[Genesi
s1:
27] [
Genesi
s2:
24]
mal
eandf
emal
e, andt
hati
nmar
ri
age"
thet
wobecomeonef
lesh"
.
ThenHeadded:
"Sot
heyar
enol
ongert
wo,
butonef
lesh.

[
Mat
thew19:
6]
-Ther
efor
e,whatGodhasj
oinedt
oget
her
,letnoonesepar
ate"
.

-Whi
l
emar
ri
agei
shonor
edt
hroughoutt
heBi
bleandaf
fi
rmedamongChr
ist
ians,
ther
e
i
snosuggest
iont
hati
tisnecessar
yforev
ery
one.

-Si
ngl
epeopl
e,whoei
therhav
echosent
oremai
nunmar
ri
edorwhohav
elostt
hei
r
spouse,
arenei
theri
ncompl
etei
nChr
istnorper
sonal
fai
l
ures.

28
-Chr
ist
iansappr
oachmar
ri
ageasacov
enant
,ar
elat
ionshi
pbasedonpr
omi
sesand
commi
tment
,notj
ustf
eel
i
ngs—t
houghl
ovei
smostcer
tai
nlyi
nvol
ved.

-Theconceptofmar
ri
ageasacov
enanti
sroot
edi
ntheHebr
ewf
ait
h,andear
ly
Chr
ist
ianspr
eser
vedt
hebel
i
efaswel
l
.

-
God’
scov
enantwi
thI
srael
wasf
oundedonhi
spr
omi
set
obef
ait
hful
toI
srael
.

-TheHebr
ewpeopl
epr
omi
sedf
ait
hful
nesst
oGodaswel
l
,thought
heBi
bledoesn’
thi
de
t
hatt
heyst
ruggl
edandof
tenf
ail
edt
okeept
hatpl
edge.Li
keGodwi
tht
heI
srael
i
tes,
16
Jesusest
abl
i
shedwhathecal
l
eda“
newcov
enant
”wi
thhi
sfol
l
ower
s.

-Tospeakofmar
ri
ageasacov
enanti
stosayt
hatt
hepar
tner
smakemut
ual
promi
ses
aboutt
hewayt
heywi
l
lchooset
oli
vei
nthef
utur
e,notj
ustdecl
arat
ionsofhowt
heyf
eel
i
nthepr
esent
.

-Theendeav
ort
oli
vei
ntot
hosepr
omi
sesr
emai
ningf
ait
hful
tot
hei
rcov
enantwi
l
l
shapet
hei
rchar
act
ersov
ert
hey
ear
s.

Deat
hinChr
ist
iani
ty

Chr
ist
iani
ty:
deat
hri
tes

Theway
sinwhi
chr
eli
giouspeopl
edealwi
thdeat
handt
hef
uner
alr
it
est
heycar
ryout
ar
eusual
l
yver
ycl
osel
yli
nkedwi
tht
hebel
i
efsaboutl
i
feaf
terdeat
hwhi
cht
heyhol
d.

Chr
ist
ianf
uner
als
Funer
alr
it
es

Funer
alr
it
esar
ever
yimpor
tantf
ort
wor
easons:

 Theyshow r
espectf
ort
hedeadand,i
nsomer
eli
gions,t
heyi
ncl
udev
ari
ous
cer
emoni
eswhi
chpeopl
ebel
i
evear
enecessar
ytoensur
ethatpeopl
egoont
o
what
evert
hei
rnex
tli
fewi
l
lbe.
 Per
hapsmor
eimpor
tant
ly,t
heygi
vet
her
elat
ivesandf
ri
endsoft
hedeadper
son

29
 t
imet
omour
nandshow t
hei
rgr
iefi
nacer
tai
nway
.Peopl
eof
tensayt
hat
showi
ngt
hei
rgr
ieff
ormal
l
yhel
pst
hem t
ogetov
ert
hei
rloss.

-
Chr
ist
ianf
uner
alsv
arysl
i
ght
lyaccor
dingt
otheChr
ist
iandenomi
nat
iont
owhi
chpeopl
e
bel
ong.

-Somet
imes,whenaper
soni
sdy
ing,apr
iestormi
nist
erwi
l
lcomet
othei
rbedsi
det
o
pr
aywi
tht
hem andt
otr
ytohel
pthem pr
epar
efordeat
h.

-I
ntheRomanCat
hol
i
cchur
ch,t
hepr
iestwi
l
lanoi
ntt
heper
sonwi
thhol
yoi
lasa
pr
epar
ati
onf
ordeat
h(t
heLastRi
tes)
.

-Whenaper
sondi
est
hei
rbodyi
spl
acedi
nacof
fi
n.

-Somet
imest
hiscof
fi
nisl
eftopensot
hatr
elat
ivescansayaf
inalgoodby
etot
he
per
son.

-Thecof
fi
nist
henusual
l
ytakent
oachur
chorchapel(
occasi
onal
l
yst
rai
ghtt
othe
cr
emat
ori
um)
.Her
eapr
iestwi
l
lreadf
rom t
heBi
ble.Thepr
iestwi
l
lal
sosayaf
ewwor
ds
aboutt
heper
sonwhi
char
edesi
gnedt
ocomf
ortt
hemour
ner
sandt
hensaypr
ayer
s,
hopi
ngt
hatt
heper
sonwi
l
lnowbei
nheav
en.

-I
naRomanCat
hol
i
cchur
cht
her
ewi
l
lbeaspeci
alEuchar
istcal
l
edaRequi
em Mass
wher
epr
ayer
sar
esai
dfort
hedeadper
son'
ssoul
.

-Nextt
hecof
fi
nist
akenf
rom t
hechur
ch,
eit
herf
orbur
ialorcr
emat
ion.

-I
nthepastmanypeopl
edi
dnotappr
oveofcr
emat
ionbecauset
heyf
eltt
hati
twoul
d
meant
hatt
heper
soncoul
dnotber
esur
rect
edont
heDayofJudgement
.Int
he
Apost
le'
sCr
eedi s:Ibel
tsay i
evei
n..
.t
her
esur
rect
ionoft
hebody
..
.Howev
er,
StPaul
sai
d
hat'
t onear
thi
tisaphy
sicalbodybuti
nheav
eni
twi
l
lbeaspi
ri
tualbody
..
.'
(1Cor
int
hians
15:
43)

Ri
tual
sinI
slam

30
Bi
rt
hri
tual
s

-
Chi
l
drenar
eapr
eci
ousgi
ftf
rom God,andt
hebl
essi
ngofachi
l
disaspeci
alt
imei
na
per
son'
sli
fe.

-Al
lcul
tur
esandr
eli
gioust
radi
ti
onshav
ecer
tai
nway
sofwel
comi
nganewbor
nchi
l
d
i
ntot
hecommuni
ty.

-Accor
dingt
otheSunnah,
ort
heaccount
soft
hePr
ophetMuhammad'
sli
fe,
thePr
ophet
i
srepor
tedt
ohav
esai
dthatal
lchi
l
drenar
ebor
nMusl
i
m,t
heyar
elat
erconv
ert
edt
o
ot
herr
eli
gionsbyt
hei
rpar
ent
s,f
ort
hisr
easont
her
ear
erel
ati
vel
yfewr
it
ual
srequi
redby
I
slami
cteachi
ngatt
hebi
rt
hofachi
l
d.

-Becauseachi
l
disbor
nMusl
i
m,t
her
eisnor
it
etoi
nit
iat
eanewmembert
othef
ait
h.

-Mostoft
her
it
esper
for
medar
erecommendedasopposedt
orequi
red.

Baby
'sFi
rst
s

-
Thef
ir
stwor
dsanewbor
nbabyshoul
dhear
,accor
dingt
oIsl
ami
ctr
adi
ti
on,
aret
hecal
l
t
opr
ayer
,“Godi
sgr
eat
,ther
eisnoGodbutAl
l
ah.Muhammadi
sthemessengerofAl
l
ah.

-Comet
opr
ayer
.”Fat
her
swhi
spert
hesewor
dsi
ntot
hei
rbabi
es'
rightear
.

-Thef
ir
stt
hinganewbor
nchi
l
dtast
esshoul
dbesomet
hingsweet
,of
tent
hisi
sa
masheddat
eordat
ejui
ce.

Nami
ng

-
Anamei
schosenf
oranewbor
nbabybyi
tssev
ent
hdayofl
i
fe.

-Thenamechosenshoul
dbemeani
ngf
ul.

-Of
tenpar
ent
schooset
onamet
hei
rchi
l
drenaf
terpi
ousmemberoft
heI
slami
c
communi
ty,
li
keMuhammadorAi
sha,
wif
eoft
hePr
ophet
,oraf
teradmi
rabl
equal
i
ties,

31
l
i
keKar
im,
meani
ng“
kind,
”orJami
l
ah,
meani
ng“
beaut
if
ul.
”

Sev
ent
hDayObser
vances

-
Anumberofr
it
esar
eper
for
medont
hesev
ent
hdayofachi
l
d'sl
i
fe.Musl
i
m par
ent
s
of
tenshav
ethei
rbaby
'sheadont
hisday
.

-Thehai
rist
henwei
ghedandanequal
wei
ghti
nsi
l
veri
sgi
vent
ochar
it
y.

-Theaqi
qahcel
ebr
ati
oni
sal
soobser
vedont
hesev
ent
hday
.

-Thi
sty
pical
l
yinv
olv
est
hesl
aught
erofanani
mal
,onef
ort
hebi
rt
hofadaught
erand
t
wof
orason,
wit
htheani
mal
'
smeatdi
str
ibut
edamongf
ami
l
yandnei
ghbor
s,orgi
ven
t
othepoor
.

Ci
rcumci
sion

-
All
Musl
i
msmal
esar
etobeci
rcumci
sed,
accor
dingt
oIsl
ami
claw,
howev
erwhena
Musl
i
m mal
eist
obeci
rcumci
sedv
ari
eswi
del
ydependi
ngoncul
tur
e.

-SomeMusl
i
msbel
i
evenew-
bor
nboy
sshoul
dbeci
rcumci
sedont
hesev
ent
hday
.

-I
nEur
opeandNor
thAmer
ican,
Musl
i
m babi
esar
eci
rcumci
sedaf
terbi
rt
hbef
ore
l
eav
ingt
hehospi
tal
.

-Tr
adi
ti
onal
soci
eti
esi
ntheMi
ddl
eEastper
for
m ci
rcumci
sionasasepar
ater
it
ual
bet
weent
heagest
woandt
wel
ve.

Mar
ri
agei
nIsl
am

-
Musl
i
m mar
ri
ageandI
slami
cweddi
ngcust
omsar
etr
adi
ti
onsandpr
act
icest
hatr
elat
e
t
oweddi
ngcer
emoni
esandmar
ri
ager
it
ual
spr
evai
l
ingwi
thi
ntheMusl
i
m wor
ld.

-Al
thoughI
slami
cmar
ri
agecust
omsandr
elat
ionsv
arydependi
ngoncount
ryofor
igi
n
andgov
ernmentr
egul
ati
ons,
bot
hMusl
i
m menandwomenf
rom ar
oundt
hewor
ldar
e

32
gui
dedbyI
slami
clawsandpr
act
icesspeci
fi
edi
ntheQur
an.

-Accor
dingt
othet
eachi
ngsoft
heQur
an,
amar
ri
edMusl
i
m coupl
eisequat
edwi
th
cl
othi
ng.

-Wi
thi
nthi
scont
ext
,bot
hhusbandandwi
fear
eeachot
her
'spr
otect
orandcomf
ort
er,
j
ustasr
eal
gar
ment
s“showandconceal
”thebodyofhumanbei
ngs.

-Thus,
theyar
emeant“
foroneanot
her
”.

-
TheQur
ancont
inuest
odi
scusst
hemat
terofmar
ri
ageandst
ates,
"AndamongHi
s
Si
gnsi
sthi
s,t
hathecr
eat
edf
ory
oumat
esf
rom amongy
our
sel
ves,
thaty
oumaydwel
l
i
ntr
anqui
l
itywi
tht
hem,
andHehasputl
oveandmer
cybet
weeny
our[
hear
ts]
…"

-
Mar
ri
ageswi
thi
ntheMusl
i
m communi
tyar
eincr
edi
blyi
mpor
tant
.

-
Thepur
poseofmar
ri
agei
nIsl
ami
ccul
tur
eist
opr
eser
vet
her
eli
giont
hrought
he
cr
eat
ionofaf
ami
l
y.

-Thef
ami
l
yismeantt
obe“
product
iveandconst
ruct
ive,
hel
pingandencour
agi
ngone
.
anot
hert
obegoodandr
ight
eous,
andcompet
ingwi
thoneanot
heri
ngoodwor
ks”

Cel
ebr
ati
onsi
ncl
udest
hef
oll
owi
ng:

a)Thebr
ideandt
hegr
oom accepteachot
heri
nthepr
esenceofwi
tnesses.
b)Thegr
oom handsov
eramar
ri
agegi
ftt
othebr
idet
hismi
ghtbemoney
,an
i
tem,
oracommi
tmentt
oper
for
m someser
vicest
oval
i
dat
ethemar
ri
age.
c)MostMusl
i
mswi
l
lhav
ear
eadi
ngf
rom t
heQur
an.
d)Ther
emaybeanexchangeofv
owsandr
ings.
e)Thosewi
tnessi
ngt
hemar
ri
agemaybeaskedt
opr
ayf
ort
hecoupl
e,t
hei
r
f
ami
l
yandI
slam communi
ty.
f
)InI
slam,
theQur
anal
l
owsamant
opr
act
icepol
ygamyandawomani
sonl
y
al
l
owedt
ohav
eonehusband.

33
Deat
hRi
tual
sinI
slam

-
Isl
ami
ctr
adi
ti
ont
endst
opr
esentdeat
hri
tual
sinaqui
teuni
vocal
way
,ast
heact
ual
r
it
ual
pract
iceshowst
obef
armor
edi
ver
seandf
lexi
ble.

-Deat
hisav
erypai
nful
andemot
ional
time,
yetspi
ri
tual
fai
thmayal
l
owi
ttobeonet
hat
i
sfi
l
ledwi
thhopeandmer
cy.

-Musl
i
msbel
i
evet
hatdeat
hisadepar
tur
efr
om t
hel
i
feoft
hiswor
ld,
butnott
heendof
aper
son'
sexi
stence.

-Rat
her
,theybel
i
evet
hatet
ernal
li
fei
syett
ocome,
andpr
ayf
orGod'
smer
cyt
obewi
th
t
hedepar
tedi
nhopest
hatt
heymayf
indpeaceandhappi
nessi
nthel
i
fet
hati
syett
o
come.

Rel
igi
ouspr
act
it
ioner
sinr
eli
gions

1.I
ndi
genousRel
igi
on

-
Thef
oll
owi
ngar
erel
i
giouspr
act
it
ioner
sinI
ndi
genousRel
i
gion:

i
. Pr
iest
s
i
i
. Medi
cinemenandwomen
i
i
i. Di
vi
ner
s
i
v. Mi
dwi
ves
v
. Rai
nmaker
s
v
i. Seer
s
v
ii
. Bl
acksmi
ths
v
ii
i. El
der
s
i
x. Spi
ri
tMedi
ums

Rol
esofr
eli
giouspr
act
it
ioner
sinI
ndi
genousr
eli
gion

Pr
iest
s

34
 - Takecar
eofr
eli
giousshr
ines/
places.
- Per
for
mri
tual
sandensur
erel
i
giousr
ulesar
eobser
ved.
- Medi
atef
ort
hepeopl
etoGod/t
heSupr
emeBei
ng
- I
nst
all
Kingsandchi
efs.
- Saf
eguar
dtabooobser
vat
ionandor
alhi
stor
y.
- Uni
tepeopl
eint
imesofcr
isi
s.
- Conductf
ert
il
it
yfest
ival
s
- Pr
otectpeopl
efr
om dangerorhar
m

Medi
cinemenandwomen

- Theyheal
peopl
e
- Theyi
dent
if
yil
l
nessandt
hei
rcauses.
- Theyi
dent
if
yappr
opr
iat
etr
eat
mentandpr
event
ionmeasur
esf
ort
hei
l
lness.
- Pr
epar
echar
msf
orpr
otect
ionagai
nstwi
tchcr
aftandev
ilspi
ri
ts
- Gi
vemedi
cinet
oincr
easef
ert
il
it
ytobot
hhumanbei
ngsandani
mal
s
- Actascounsel
ors,
gui
dingpeopl
eonal
li
ssuesofl
i
fe.

Rel
evanceofmedi
cinemenandwomen

- Medi
caldoct
orsandsci
ent
if
icr
esear
cher
stodaywor
ksi
debysi
dewi
th
t
radi
ti
onal
heal
ers.
- Ther
eiswi
del
yhel
dbel
i
eft
hatsomei
l
lnesscannotbet
reat
edi
nhospi
tal
s
hence,
peopl
etur
ntoher
bal
i
stsf
ort
reat
mentofsuchdi
seases
- ManyAf
ri
canshol
dthatmedi
cinemenwhopr
act
icemagi
chav
ethepowert
o
changet
hei
rfat
e.

Medi
ums/
Spi
ri
tMedi
ums

- Thesecommuni
cat
ewi
thGodonbehal
foft
hel
i
ving

35
 - Theyal
sohel
pcur
edi
seasesandendmi
sfor
tunesr
esul
ti
ngf
rom cur
sesor
badomens.
- Theyar
ever
yinst
rument
alIt
hei
nst
all
ati
onofKi
ngsandChi
efs,t
heygi
ve
aut
hent
ici
tyt
othe pol
i
ticalaut
hor
it
yoft
he Ki
ngs bygi
vi
ng a r
eli
gious
meani
ngt
othecer
emony
.
- Theyal
sosol
vepr
obl
emsoft
hef
t.
- Usual
l
ytheyactonl
ywhenpossessedbyspi
ri
t.
- Theyhel
pindancesandpr
eser
vat
ionofor
alhi
stor
yandt
radi
ti
ons.

Di
vi
ner
s

- Thesepr
act
icecast
ingusi
ngsmal
lobj
ect
ssuchbones,
cowr
ieshel
l
s,st
ones,
st
ri
ngsofl
eat
herandf
latpi
ecesofwood.
- Theypr
edi
ctt
hef
utur
e
- Theypr
edi
ctt
hepast
- Theypr
edi
ctt
hepr
esent
- Theyof
fercomf
orti
nti
mesofcr
isi
s
- Theyar
efor
tunet
ell
ers.

Rai
nmaker
s

- Theyst
udyt
hesky
,st
ars,moon,cl
oudsand wi
nd mov
ement
sand t
hey
mast
ert
hei
rbodysensest
opr
edi
ctweat
her
.
- Theyper
for
m speci
alr
ainmaki
ngcer
emoni
es.
- Theypr
esi
deov
err
eli
giousf
unct
ions.
- Theyadv
isebot
hcommuni
tyandi
ndi
vi
dual
sonr
eli
giousandsoci
ali
ssues.
- Theygi
vebl
essi
ngst
omember
soft
hecommuni
ty
- Theymedi
atebet
weenGodandpeopl
e

Rel
evanceofRai
nmaker
s

- Theyof
tenengagedur
ingpubl
i
cgat
her
ingsandot
herbi
gev
ent
stodel
ayt
he

36
 r
ainunt
ilt
heev
enti
sov
er.
- Chr
ist
iani
tyhaser
odedpeopl
e’
sbel
i
efi
nrai
nmaker
s.
- Accor
dingt
oChr
ist
iani
ty,
Godal
onei
sabl
etobr
ingr
ain.
- These day
s,t
he Met
eor
ologi
caldepar
tmentnow gi
ves i
nfor
mat
ion on
weat
herandseasonal
changes.

El
der
s

- Thesear
eseni
ormember
soft
hecommuni
ty.
- Theyar
einchar
geoff
ami
l
ies,
clansandv
il
lages.
- Theyset
tl
edi
sput
esi
ncommuni
ti
es.
- Theymakei
mpor
tantf
ami
l
ydeci
sions.
- Theypr
esi
deov
erf
unct
ionssuchasr
it
esofpassage.

Rel
evanceofEl
der
s

- El
der
stodayhel
pinset
tl
ingdi
sput
eswhi
char
etoocul
tur
all
ysuchasl
and
di
sput
es
- Theyhel
psol
veet
hni
cdi
sput
es
- Theyst
il
lcar
ryoutr
it
esofpassage.
- Theyar
eusef
uli
nmai
ntai
ningAf
ri
cancul
tur
ethr
oughor
alnar
rat
ives.
- El
der
spr
ovi
dehel
pful
inf
ormat
iont
oresear
cher
sinHi
stor
yandAnt
hropol
ogy
- Theygi
vegener
algui
dancet
oindi
vi
dual
s,f
ami
l
yandcommuni
ty.

Howr
eli
giouspr
act
it
ioner
sinI
ndi
genousRel
i
gionacqui
ret
hei
rski
l
ls

i
. I
nher
it
ance
i
i
. Appr
ent
iceshi
p
i
i
i. Dr
eamsandv
isi
ons
i
v. Bei
ngpossessedbyspi
ri
ts
v
. Recei
vedacal
lfr
om t
heSupr
emeBei
ng/
God
v
i. Obser
vedt
hewor
kofspeci
ali
st

37
2.Sacr
edPr
act
it
ioner
sinJudai
sm

38