African religions & philosophy / John S. Mbiti.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 272-278) and index.

Preface x
1. INTRODUCTION
1 (5)
2. THE STUDY OF AFRICAN RELIGIONS AND PHILOSOPHY
6 (9)
[a] The early Western approaches and attitudes
6 (4)
[b] Intermediate and current studies
10 (5)
3. THE CONCEPT OF TIME AS A KEY TO THE UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETATION OF AFRICAN RELIGIONS AND PHILOSOPHY
15 (14)
[a] Potential time and actual time
16 (1)
[b] Time reckoning and chronology
17 (4)
[c] The concept of past, present and future
21 (1)
[d] The concept of history and pre-history
22 (2)
[e] The concept of human life in relation to time
24 (1)
[f] Death and immortality
24 (2)
[g] Space and time
26 (1)
[h] Discovering or extending the future dimension of time
27 (2)
4. THE NATURE OF GOD
29 (10)
[a] The eternal and intrinsic attributes of God
30 (4)
[b] The moral attributes of God
34 (5)
5. THE WORKS OF GOD
39 (9)
[a] Creation
39 (2)
[b] Providence and sustenance
41 (2)
[c] God and afflictions
43 (2)
[d] The governing work of God
45 (2)
[e] God and human history
47 (1)
6. GOD AND NATURE
48 (10)
[a] Anthropomorphic attributes of God
48 (2)
[b] God, animals and plants
50 (1)
[c] God, natural objects and phenomena
51 (7)
7. THE WORSHIP OF GOD
58 (16)
[a] Sacrifices and offerings
58 (3)
[b] Prayers, invocations, blessings and salutations
61 (5)
[c] Miscellaneous other acts and expressions of worship
66 (1)
[d] Religious intermediaries
67 (4)
[e] Occasion and place of worship
71 (3)
8. SPIRITUAL BEINGS, SPIRITS AND THE LIVING-DEAD
74 (16)
[a] Divinities and God's associates
74 (3)
[b] Spirits
77 (4)
[c] The living-dead
81 (9)
9. THE CREATION AND ORIGINAL STATE OF MAN
90 (8)
[a] The creation and origin of man
90 (3)
[b] The original state of man, and God's provision for him
93 (1)
[c] The separation between God and man
94 (4)
10. ETHNIC GROUPS, KINSHIP AND THE INDIVIDUAL
98 (9)
[a] The tribes, nations or peoples of Africa
98 (4)
[b] Kinship
102 (2)
[c] The family, the household and the individual
104 (3)
11. BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD
107 (11)
[a] Pregnancy
107 (2)
[b] The actual birth
109 (6)
[c] The naming and nursing of children
115 (3)
12. INITIATION AND PUBERTY RITES
118 (12)
[a] Akamba initiation rites
119 (4)
[b] Maasai initiation rites
123 (1)
[c] Nandi female initiation rites
124 (3)
[d] Ndebele puberty rites
127 (3)
13. MARRIAGE AND PROCREATION
130 (15)
[a] Preparation for marriage and procreation
131 (1)
[b] Choosing the marriage partner
132 (2)
[c] Betrothal and courtship
134 (1)
[d] The wedding ceremony
135 (3)
[e] `Polygamy' and inheriting wives or husbands
138 (3)
[f] Divorce and separation
141 (1)
[g] The place and use of sex in married life
142 (3)
14. DEATH AND THE HEREAFTER
145 (17)
[a] Death among the Ndebele
145 (3)
[b] Death among the Abaluyia
148 (3)
[c] The causes and meaning of death
151 (4)
[d] The hereafter
155 (2)
[e] The destiny of the soul
157 (5)
15. SPECIALISTS: MEDICINE-MEN, RAINMAKERS, KINGS AND PRIESTS
162 (27)
[a] The medicine-men
162 (5)
[b] Mediums and diviners
167 (7)
[c] Rainmakers
174 (3)
[d] Kings, queens and rulers
177 (5)
[e] Priests, prophets and religious founders
182 (7)
16. MYSTICAL POWER, MAGIC, WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY
189 (10)
17. THE CONCEPTS OF EVIL, ETHICS AND JUSTICE
199 (12)
[a] The origin and nature of evil
199 (6)
[b] Restitution and punishment
205 (2)
[c] Summary and conclusion
207 (4)
18. CHANGING MAN AND HIS PROBLEMS
211 (12)
[a] The causes of this rapid change
211 (2)
[b] The nature of this change
213 (3)
[c] Problems of the rapid change
216 (7)
19. CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND OTHER RELIGIONS IN AFRICA
223 (33)
[a] Christianity in Africa
223 (13)
[b] Islam in Africa
236 (12)
[c] Other religious traditions in Africa
248 (8)
20. THE SEARCH FOR NEW VALUES, IDENTITY AND SECURITY
256 (16)
[a] The religious claim
256 (4)
[b] The ideological claim
260 (5)
[c] Conclusion: Religion in the African Dilemma
265 (7)
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 272 (5)
APPENDIX: SUPPLEMENTARY SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 277 (2)
INDEXES 279
Map and list of African peoples mentioned in the book
frontispie