Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity
Although at first sight Eastern Christianity is not associated with Africa, the African continent has shaped the establishment and development of three of the four main Eastern Christian traditions. Through a sociological lens, we examine the identity of the above African churches, focusing on the s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/11/1019 |
| _version_ | 1827645630372118528 |
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| author | Marco Guglielmi |
| author_facet | Marco Guglielmi |
| author_sort | Marco Guglielmi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although at first sight Eastern Christianity is not associated with Africa, the African continent has shaped the establishment and development of three of the four main Eastern Christian traditions. Through a sociological lens, we examine the identity of the above African churches, focusing on the socio-historical entanglements of their religious and ethnic features. Firstly, we study the identity of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Church belonging to Oriental Orthodoxy. We focus on these African churches—and their diasporas in Western countries—as indigenous Christian paths in Africa. Secondly, we examine the identity of Africans and African-Americans within Eastern Orthodoxy. We consider both to have some inculturation issues within the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the development of an African-American component within Orthodoxy in the USA. Thirdly, we analyze the recent establishment and identity formation of African churches belonging to Eastern-rite Catholic Churches. In short, we aim to elaborate an overview of the multiple identities of African churches and one ecclesial community in Eastern Christianity, and to compare diverse sociological entanglements between religious and ethnic traits within them. A fruitful but neglected research subject, these churches’ identities appear to be reciprocally shaped by their own Eastern Christian tradition and ethnic heritage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:42:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a992dafd5d244ad81ce86391e919153 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:42:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a992dafd5d244ad81ce86391e9191532023-11-24T06:35:27ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-10-011311101910.3390/rel13111019Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and EthnicityMarco Guglielmi0Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Via Cesarotti 10/12, 35123 Padova, ItalyAlthough at first sight Eastern Christianity is not associated with Africa, the African continent has shaped the establishment and development of three of the four main Eastern Christian traditions. Through a sociological lens, we examine the identity of the above African churches, focusing on the socio-historical entanglements of their religious and ethnic features. Firstly, we study the identity of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Church belonging to Oriental Orthodoxy. We focus on these African churches—and their diasporas in Western countries—as indigenous Christian paths in Africa. Secondly, we examine the identity of Africans and African-Americans within Eastern Orthodoxy. We consider both to have some inculturation issues within the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the development of an African-American component within Orthodoxy in the USA. Thirdly, we analyze the recent establishment and identity formation of African churches belonging to Eastern-rite Catholic Churches. In short, we aim to elaborate an overview of the multiple identities of African churches and one ecclesial community in Eastern Christianity, and to compare diverse sociological entanglements between religious and ethnic traits within them. A fruitful but neglected research subject, these churches’ identities appear to be reciprocally shaped by their own Eastern Christian tradition and ethnic heritage.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/11/1019African ChristianityEastern ChristianityEastern-rite Catholic ChurchesEastern OrthodoxyidentityOriental Orthodoxy |
| spellingShingle | Marco Guglielmi Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity Religions African Christianity Eastern Christianity Eastern-rite Catholic Churches Eastern Orthodoxy identity Oriental Orthodoxy |
| title | Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity |
| title_full | Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity |
| title_fullStr | Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity |
| title_short | Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity |
| title_sort | sharpening the identities of african churches in eastern christianity a comparison of entanglements between religion and ethnicity |
| topic | African Christianity Eastern Christianity Eastern-rite Catholic Churches Eastern Orthodoxy identity Oriental Orthodoxy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/11/1019 |
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