Afro-American Religious Expressions
Syncretism is defined as “the attempted combination of different systems of philosophical or religious belief or practice” and “the reconciliation of different belief systems.” However, the term is limited when applied to African American religious practices because it doesn’t fully address the variety ethnic and cultural influences from Africa, Europe, and the Americas. For example, just as African American music contains elements that include influences from Islamic West Africa, the rainforests of the Congo, and the valleys the Volta River, so too do the religious practices of people in the African Diaspora contain a mixture of cultural influences. The result is that within Protestant and Catholic traditions in the Americas there are religious elements from Africa that have led to the creation of new and distinct belief systems. Write a 3-4 page essay that discuss how the variety of spiritual expressions found in the African American Diaspora have evolved over the years. The review essay should include at least one paragraph that addresses each of topics below. In addition, it should include an introductory paragraph that outlines your perspectives on this topic and a conclusion that summarizes your thoughts and insights on these themes.
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APA Format, 758 words