Abstract
Religion has played a pivotal role in
Eritrea and its surrounding nations. With Islam and Christianity being present
since the 4th and 7th centuries respectively, the two groups
have lived largely peacefully due to different geographical areas that they
have inhabited. While Muslims and Christians have been rather amicable
historically, 2002 brought change in religious tolerance in the nation with a
law enacted that would only recognize the four dominate religions. Subsequent
tension, and religious persecution of minority Christians followed that has
drawn attention of international aid groups.
Origin Myths
The story of “Solomon and the Queen
of Sheba”, “The Separation of the Darassa and the Jam-Jamo”, and “How Rule
Passed from Women to Men” are three stories included in African Myths of
Origin. The origin myths of the region tell the stories of political power and the
separation of that power; making clear distinctions between the roles of men
and women and how those roles came to be.
Religion in Eritrea and the Surrounding Regions
Religion has played an important part
in the geographical region of Eritrea and its surrounding nations. The Kunama,
believed to be the earliest inhabitants of Eritrea are a monotheistic society,
worshiping a god called Anna. The Kunama religion is very much a spiritually
based practice and spiritual and other rituals are dominate in the daily lives
of the Kunama people. (Madote, 2013).
Christianity arrived in the area in
the 4th century CE (Britannica, 2010). Roman Catholic and Protestant
missionaries arrived while the country was under Italian rule from 1889-1941;
today Christianity remains the dominant religion of the Eritrean people. While
Christianity has been a vibrant part of the fabric of this region, so too has
Islam. A rise in Islam in 7th century Arabia spread throughout the Red Sea
region; today about half of the Eritrean people practice Islam (Britannica,
2010).
When Christian Ethiopians were faced Muslim invaders during the 7th century, Christians and others were
forced to flee. Subsequently, Christians and Muslims have been geographically
divided with the Eritrean highlands being mainly Christian and the lowlands and
coast predominately occupied by Muslims. In future generations this would have
a tremendous impact as to how the two distinct groups would live off the land,
and would later dictate trading in the region.
Charles (2015) cites, “Islam claims
nearly all the pastoralists, Christianity is dominant among the cultivators.
Muslims are also significantly represented in all towns of Eritrea, where they
are prominent in trade. In the perennial competition between cultivators and
pastoralists over land, water, control of trade, and access to ports, religion
has played an ideological role, and it remains a potent political force.”
A young pastoralist from the Sosshel region of Ethiopia.
Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/search?q=kunama&espv=2&biw=1242&bih=566&tbm=isch&imgil=t1ZK5SbNuPdiiM%253A%253BOnMOwW9JnO7GFM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.eritrea.be%25252Fold%25252Feritrea-barentu.htm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=t1ZK5SbNuPdiiM%253A%252COnMOwW9JnO7GFM%252C_&usg=__xBECDb59WbNogYbLPBbbvZKNamI%3D&ved=0CDYQyjc&ei=HU8fVeC8HYmqoQTcn4CQBw#imgrc=t1ZK5SbNuPdiiM%253A%3BOnMOwW9JnO7GFM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.eritrea.be%252Fold%252Fkunama.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.eritrea.be%252Fold%252Feritrea-barentu.htm%3B420%3B280
Changes in Religion
A 2002 law passed by the Eritrean
government recognized only four religions in the country: Roman Catholicism,
Eritrean Orthodox Christians, Sunni Islam and the Evangelical Church of
Eritrea. As a direct result, in the last
decade minority Christians have seen a tremendous amount of persecution and
violence directed towards them that has garnered attention and support from
international aid groups such as Amnesty International.
References
Belcher, Stephen, ed. African Myths
of Origin. New York: Penguin Classics, 2005.
Eritrea. (2015). In Encyclopædia
Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/191577/Eritrea/37654/Religion
The Kunama People of Eritrea. (2013) Retrieved
from
Fowler, Timothy. 4/3/2015. Minority Christians in Eritrea Face Extreme
Persecution. Retrieved from
http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/minority-christians-in-eritrea-face-extreme-persecution-say-rights-groups-22240
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