Â鶹ÒùÔº

show that South Africa is one of only three countries in the world where religious participation in recent years. The other two countries are Italy and the US.

The data show that South Africa's Christian adherence has once again increased. However, the kinds of Christianity that are growing, and those that are declining, tell us some interesting things about the religious, cultural, social and political sentiments of South Africans.

Only 2.9% of the population claimed to have no religious views at all—this means that 96.1% of South Africans profess or practice some form of faith. Even though COVID-19 restrictions meant a in the 2022 census, the trends are clear.

Christianity is the most popular religious affiliation, with 85.3% of South Africans identifying as Christian of . One simply needs to drive through any city or town in South Africa to see the of "Christianities" on display. They range from cathedrals to store-front "miracle centers" to African indigenous communities worshipping in nature.

While there are some similarities in their general beliefs, one would hardly be able to say what a west African styled neo-Pentecostal community has in common with, for example, a church group. Or the beliefs of members of the (ZCC). They may all be labeled as Christian, but their beliefs and practices seem worlds apart.

In South Africa there has been a steady of the so-called "mainline" Christian churches, such as the Methodists, Anglicans, Catholics or Dutch Reformed. At the same time, the country has seen the membership of African indigenous Christian groupings (such as the ZCC and the and churches), and postcolonial Christian groupings (like prosperity and neo-Pentecostal groups) increasing significantly.

My research as a has focused on the religious, social and political changes in southern African Christianity for almost 30 years. Understanding a nation's religious beliefs helps explain the fabric of its society and also maps how that society changes.

And churches exert political influence. This is particularly evident at election time when attend mega churches to campaign for votes and be endorsed by church leaders.

Church leaders also attempt to shape politics. Some of the fastest growing Christian groupings in South Africa, for example, have pledged to "" if corruption-tainted former president Jacob Zuma and his MK party don't win the 2024 national elections.

It's crucial to make sense of the worldviews of South Africa's diverse Christian churches, and understand the potential impact of their moral and theological beliefs on the country's collective future.

The colonial churches

Like many things in South Africa, religious traditions have important links to a painful and racist and history. My own religious tradition, , was among the colonial Christianities to arrive on the southern tip of Africa.

Early forms of British, Dutch and French Christianities that arrived in South Africa were as committed to their as they were to their religious beliefs. have shown, missionaries often mixed their religions beliefs with the political and economic interests of their countries.

This had on the cultures, identities and religious beliefs of the indigenous African populations. African religion was and even labeled as . Local ethical systems were replaced by foreign western ideals. Languages, art and customs were eroded and replaced with foreign symbols and practices that alienated people from their histories.

So it's not surprising to see that these colonial Christian churches are being rejected in favor of postcolonial and African indigenous beliefs.

The new churches

My three broad reasons for the growth of these "new" churches over the past decades.

First, there are cultural reasons. There's growing interest among both and scholars in the of religious beliefs and practices.

The largest proportion of South Africa's Christians (40.82%) are expressing a longing to African identity and African philosophical systems with their religious beliefs. They're opting to join church communities that preach, sing and pray in African indigenous languages and that wear culturally appropriate clothing.

A notable debate is even taking place in South Africa's largest "mainline" Christian denomination. There's an appeal that Methodist ministers who are also traditional healers () be allowed to practice as both at the same time.

Second, there are socio-economic reasons. As South Africa's predominantly with poverty, unemployment and inadequate social provisions, there's a turn to churches that promise supernatural pathways to wealth and social prominence.

These churches, which often have links to either west African or , have long abandoned the central elements of colonial Christianities—like religious vestments or liturgies that still pray for the King of England. They're devoting themselves to new forms of imperialism—like capitalism, individual liberty and identity politics.

Third, there are political reasons for the growth of these churches. Many South Africans have found the historical ties between "mainline" Christianity and political parties to be a disappointment. In the last parliamentary census, 63% of parliamentarians they were members of the Methodist church. The church recently on social media that politicians should not be "given the mic" in church services.

As South Africans lose faith in the promises of politicians, they're also losing faith in the religious communities that seem to .

Why this matters

A history of Christianity offers into the hopes, dreams, frustrations and sorrows of South Africans. This can be seen in how religion has shifted along social, political and economic lines.

South Africans remain religious, and are growing in religiosity. Some of the forms of Christianity to which they are turning are politically dangerous and economically harmful, while others offer the promise of a more authentically African way of believing and living. What people believe matters, and what they no longer believe matters too.

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .