FRANCISTOWN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION
TOPIC ONE: THE NATURE AND ROLE OF RELIGION IN THE SOCIETY
What is Religion?
It is universally agreed that religion is found in all human societies. Some societies may not
have the idea or concept of God such as the Buddhist communities, but this does not in any
way suggest that they do not have a religion. Religion has always been an integral part of
human existence and even today it continues to influence human behaviours, perceptions,
actions and responses toward others and even the environment.
There is no single definition for the term religion because different people attempted to define
religion based on their diverse religious experiences. Several definitions have been given but
none of them fully defines religion as some aspects of religion have been excluded hence it
does not give a complete picture of what religion is. Kile Jones once said that “it is apparent
that religion can be seen as theological, anthropological, and psychological phenomenon of
humankind. He further said that to define religion or to limit it to one perspective is to miss
its multifaceted nature and lose out on the complete definition.”
The following are some of the definitions provided by different scholars for the term religion:
Theological definition of religion:
Theology is the study of religion and religious ideas and beliefs. Several definitions have
been offered by various theologians to describe religion. The theological perspective insists
that religion has to do with God or the supernatural.
 A set of beliefs involving a supernatural being, God or gods who has influence over
people’s lives and behaviour (Isaac Barrow).
 Belief in a supernatural power/being beyond human understanding.
 Having some kind of dependency on something or someone (Friedrich
Schleiermacher).
 Religion is a set of beliefs which makes claims that lie beyond the realm of scientific
observation, according to some authority or personal existence with the divine.
 Religion is a set of beliefs and practices that have the function of addressing the
fundamental questions of human identity.
 Bryan Wilson explains religion as dealing with the feelings that people express when
they worship i.e. show respect to and reverence to a supernatural power.
 Religion is what a particular group, society or community believes in and practice.
Assessment of the theological definition of religion:
Religion is the believe in a supernatural power being that influences people’s lives and their
behaviour, for Christians the supreme being is God, so they believe that he influences their
lives as the law giver. Through the laws people’s behaviours are influenced as they do what is
right/acceptable before God and fellowmen.

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  It may promote morality among people. The fact that they are concerned with the
ultimate and most high being, believers are always cautious of what they do in life
hence aspire for the most righteous acts.
 Peace and harmony is also promoted. Adherents relate well with others and the
environment around them to avoid causing anger to God/gods thereby enhacing peace
and harmony.
 However, some many laws may bring abuse and deny people their rights if not
followed well for example, in Islam the sharia law prescribes stoning to death a
women caught committing adultery which is not good as life is taken away.
 It may also promote religious intolerance. It is not all religions that believe in the
existence of the Supreme being/supernatural powers. Therefore followers of some
religions may fail to recognise and appreciate others due to the differences they have.
Sociological definition religion:
Sociology explains religion in terms of its role within the society.
 Karl Marx defines religion as an opium for the people. This means that religion makes
people to accept the situation that they find themselves. He says it is an instrument
used to oppress people.
 Emile Durkheim saw religion as the cement that binds society together. Through
shared beliefs and practices, religion creates a sense of social identity and reinforces
the moral values of the society.
 Roger Bastide defines religion as an instrument used by people to search for the
meaning and purpose of life. It helps people to have a clear understanding of life and
to lie it accordingly. It gives people guidelines for their daily activities. People use
religion as an attempt to answer questions about life such as: “who am I”?” Why am I
here” etc.
Moral definition of Religion:
 Religion is a way of life.
 It is leading a good life or recognition of all our duties as divine commands.
THE IMPACT/EFFECTS OF OF RELIGION IN SOCIETY
The impact of religion can be both positive and negative.
POSITIVE IMPACT OF RELIGION IN THE SOCIETY
 Offers guidance for daily life activities and so provides a certain pattern of behaviour,
acceptable moral standards e.g., moral values like honesty, trust and respect reduces
cases or incidents of extra marital affairs that lead to diseases and crime.
 Religion also promotes tolerance and unity, for example, the golden rule in
Christianity which states that do unto others what you want them to do unto you, this
teaching encourages respect amongst community members.
 It promotes human rights and empowerment of women and the girl child e.g.,
Bahaullah’s teachings on equality of men and women.

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  Religion provides for other people’s needs e.g., social, emotional, material, etc.
People are given basic needs e.g., alms giving in Islam, people are comforted in
difficult times through prayer and fellowship.
 Helps to bring people together in a shared experience e.g., during worship, festivals,
etc.
 Restores hope in times of trouble, sorrow and difficulty e.g., HIV positive people are
given hope for a better life in heaven, moksha (union with a Supreme being), etc.
 Promotes social harmony e.g., through keeping the ethical codes.
 Provides a sense of belonging. Through religion many people form an identity within
their society. Through worship, festivals and rituals religious people feel part a
religious community. Through fellowship followers feel a part of a community of
believers. It acts as a second family to members.
 It encourages people to live morally upright lives and curbs many social ills, e.g., the
Ten commandments in Christianity.
 Nourishes the spiritual part of man through prayers, rituals, sacrifices, offerings and
dedication, devotion and trust in the upper power leading to peace, joy, comfort,
security, hope and total bliss.
 Religion gives answers to mysteries of life and helps to give meaning to life. It
explains things around us that cannot be explained by science. For example, the
creation myths from almost all the religions try to explain how life has begun and
what the purpose of human life is.
NEGATIVE IMPACT FO RELIGION IN THE SOCIETY
 Some religions forbid followers to participate in politics and therefore deny their
rights.
 It can lead to fanaticism which makes people to obey blindly e.g., denial to source
health services such as contraceptives, ARV’s and immunization, etc. Members
maybe come fanatics/fundamentalists. Thus accepting things the way they are stated
in their scriptures even if they are run by times and no longer meaningful in the
current times.
 It can also lead to intolerance as some become too obsessed with the teachings of their
religions that they become intolerant of others resulting in prejudice, persecution and
wars e.g., the crusades, Jihad and the Bokoharam in Nigeria. Some religious teachings
develop some spirit of hatred and inequality in society. For instance, in Christianity,
followers are taught that a man is the head of the family. This teaching therefore may
encourage men to look down upon women and discriminate against them. In ATR,
followers are taught that women cannot lead (‘Ga di nke di etelelwa pele ke
managadi’). This teaching encourages woen to be denied positions of leadership in
favour of men hence gender inequality.
 Religion has hindered scientific development and success. For example, Medical
Science has faced a lot of attacks from religious fanatics because they base their
arguments in morality and righteousness.
 It can make people docile and accept any situation e.g., when religious leaders give
instruction and the followers do not question.
 It also manipulates people into a certain way of thinking e.g., giving up property and
money to the church or religious leaders which may lead to poverty.
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  Religion can be used as a tool of oppression e.g., religious leaders can use the
teachings of religion to oppress, victimize and terrorize.
 Negates unity and a wider sense of believing e.g., I am catholic; I am Sikh leading to
intolerance. Many religious people are intolerant towards those who do not share the
same beliefs as them thus they are obsessed with the teachings of their religions.
 Fighting in the name of religion leads to loss of life, destruction of homes and refugee
problems.
TOPIC TWO: DIMENSIONS OF RELIGION
These are components or features of a religion. All religions have certain features in common
which enable us to identify it as a religion. These shared features are called dimensions.
According to Ninian Smarts, there are seven dimensions of religion.
Comparing the dimensions of dimensions of Oriental and Judeo-Christian religions (as
stated by Ninian Smart)
Oriental religions are those religions that originated in the countries east of the Mediterranean
Sea. They are Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Shintoism.
Judeo Christian religions are those religions that originated in the middle east. These religions
are also known as the Abrahamic religions because Judaism is their mother religion. They are
Christianity, Islam and Bahai Faith.
 At times they are called Abrahamic religions becausetheyarefromthesamesource, they
trace their roots orhavea common origin to Abraham or theyrecognize a spiritual
tradition identified with him.
 Judaism, Christianity and Islam are monotheistic and conceive God to be a transcendent
creator – figure and the source of moral law.
 Their sacred narratives feature many of the same figures, histories and places in each,
although they often present them with different roles, perspectives and meanings.
THE SEVEN DIMENSIONS OF RELIGION BY NINIAN SMARTS
1. DOCTRINAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSION
This refers to a set of beliefs and or foundation of a religion teachings in a religion. They
provide a base or foundation of a religion e.g., the doctrine of trinity in Christianity, the eight-
fold path in Buddhism, etc.
 All the Judeo-Christian religions are monotheistic, that is they believe in one God. The
Oriental religions on the other hand have some differences on the issue of the Supreme
Being e.g., Sikhs are monotheistic, Hindus are polytheistic, that is, they believe in many
Gods while Buddhists are atheists, that is, they do not believe in a Supreme Being but
rather follow the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).
 All the Judeo – Christian religions believe in life after death, that is, death is not the end
but an entry into a new life – a spiritual life. All the Oriental religions on the other hand
believe in the concept of samsara which is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Hindus
believe that their actions (karma) affect what happens to their soul when it is reborn. If
one lives a bad life, one’s next life will be a step down. Hindus believe that if one lives
a good life their souls will eventually become pure and therefore break from the cycle

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 of samsara, this is called moksha where they will be reunited wit that of Brahman. Sikhs
also believe that the cycle of samsara continues until one’s soul becomes close enough
to God to be reunited with God forever. Buddhists on the other hand do not believe that
a person has a soul unlike in Hinduism and Sikhism. They believe that the cycle of
samsara continues until a person reaches enlightenment. At this point the person is freed
from the cycle, and this is called nirvana.
IMPORTANCE
 Help followers to know and understand their faith.
 Encourage people to remain strong in their faith.
 Form the basis of the religion. They form the foundation upon which the religion is
established.

2. NARRATIVE AND MYTHIC DIMENSION

This deals with myths in a religion. Myths are stories which explain mysteries of life or that
which is beyond human understanding. This incorporates the stories that form the starting point
for a great deal of religious teaching. The Christian bible and the Sikh Guru Granth Sahib are
example of texts that belong to the narrative and mythic dimension.
Both Judeo Christian and Oriental religions have stories of how the universe came into being.
Judeo – Christian religions emphasize on the Supreme Being as the creator of the universe.
Bahai Faith differs a little with the other Judeo – Christian religions on the creation of human
beings. They accommodate the scientific view of creation as they believe science and religion
complement each other.
Oriental religions on the other hand have stories which differ according to the three religions.
For example, Hindu creation is done by one of the Hindu trimuti(three gods), Brahma while in
Buddhism creation is done by a strong force called Panku. Sikhism just like the Judeo –
Christian religions emphasize on the Supreme Being as the creator of everything.
IMPORTANCE
 It explains the mysteries of life. Through this dimension, followers can get a clear
meaning of things happening around them. For example, religion explains how life and
death began and what happens after death.
 Guide people on how to behave and live happily.
 Explain why some rituals and activities are performed in a religion.
 Promotes sustainable use of the environment. The different myth attributes creation to
the Supreme Being hence followers use their environment with caution and fear that it
is holy and belongs to God.

3. ETHICAL AND LEGAL DIMENSION

These are rules or codes of conduct that govern the behaviour of the adherents. The right and
wrong within a religion that seta standard of behaviour. They help to build a good relationship
between followers and other people. This dimension covers the religious rules, laws, customs,
taboos or values, codes of conduct that stem from the narrative and doctrinal aspects of each
tradition.

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All Judeo – Christian and Oriental religions emphasize on the following rules:
 No stealing
 No killing
 No sex before marriage
 No adultery
 No intoxicants
 Honesty
 Compassion
 Faithfulness etc.
Specific religions have ethical codes peculiar to them e.g., the Ten commandments in
Christianity, the Sariah law in Islam, The Eight-fold path and the five precepts in Buddhism.
However, the oriental religions have a code of conduct which is peculiar to them, the concept
of ahimsa which is non - violence to all living things. They have great respect for all forms of
life hence some of them are vegetarians, they do not kill animals for meat.
IMPORTANCE
 Provides human beings with acceptable and proper patterns of actions and behaviour.
It outlines these in the form of ethics, morals, customs and systems of values which
guide believers to have a good relationship with God, fellowmen and their environment.
 Provides followers with a sense of obligation. They outline and specify the pattenrs of
behaviour that followers are obliged to respect and follow.
 Creates a sense of responsibility amongst the followers. It encourages certain virtues
that make followers to be responsible towards others which helps reduce some social
ills in society.
 Promotes peace and harmony. Ethical teachings set a standard through which the
acceptable and non acceptable behaviours are determined. They also state the action
taken against those who fail to respect these standards.

4. RITUAL AND PRACTICAL DIMENSION

This deals with activities done in a religion. It is a series of activities performed in a certain
pattern to express one’s faith. It deals with people’s outward behaviour, a symbolic way of
communicating a deeper meaning in a practical way. This covers acts of worship, both private
and corporate, prayer, preaching, sacrifice and meditation. Examples include the celebration of
the Eucharist in Christianity. Some of the religious activities run across all the religions. For
example, pilgrimage, festivals, etc.

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All the Judeo – Christian and Oriental religions go for pilgrimage, and they have festivals.
Religion Place of pilgrimage Festivals
Christianity Jerusalem, Rome, Moria in Christmas, Easter
South Africa
Islam Mecca Id – ul Fitr, Id – ul – Adha
Baha’i Faith Haifa, Bahji Naw – Ruz
Hinduism Holy rivers e.g., river Diwali, Holi
Ganges, Puri, Varanasi,
Dwarka, Budrinath
Buddhism Bodh Gaya, Kushinagara, Wesak, Songkran, Esala
Nepal, Sri Lanka perahera, Kathina
Sikhism Golden Temple at Amristar, Baisakhi, Diwali
Nankana Sahib

In Judeo – Christian religions only Christianity has a ritual which marks full membership into
the Christian church, some churches use baptism while others use confirmation ceremony to
affirm one’s membership. All Oriental religions have rituals where they affirm people’s
membership into the religion. One must go through certain rituals in order to become a full
member of the religion, e.g.,
Religion Ritual
Hinduism Sacred thread ceremony (Upanayana)
Buddhism Coming of age
Sikhism Initiation into Khalsa society

In Hinduism boys who belong to the three higher castes go through the sacred ceremony.
This is the time when a boy becomes a full member of the religion. He is given a sacred
thread which he must wear for the rest of his life. The thread is changed during certain
festivals. The boy goes through some lessons or training in preparation for the ceremony.
In Buddhism parents send their sons to the monastery to live with the monks and receive
education on religious matters. After some months of training, they make promises to follow
the teachings of the Buddha.
In Sikhism the Sikhs who are ready to make a full lifelong commitment to the Sikh faith go
through the Amrit Sankar ceremony. The ceremony is concluded by the Panj piare (the five
well respected members of the Khalsa). The initiates stand before the Panj piare and promise
to always follow the principles of the Sikh religion.
All the Judeo – Christian religions bury the dead while in Oriental religions they cremate the
dead expect in Buddhism where they may have a choice of cremation or burial.
All the oriental religions practice meditation where they control their minds so that they
concentrate during worship, while in Judeo – Christian religions meditation is not
emphasized expect in Baha’i Faith where they meditate during the nineteen days of fasting.

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IMPORTANCE
 Strengthens followers faith. Through the activities that followers engage in, they are
reminded of the important events in their religion.
 Identifies a religion. The activities and rituals that different religions perform are
different from each other and make each religion unique.
 Brings followers together. Followers of different religions come together when
performing these rituals.
 Promotes relationships among the followers. As followers come together they
establish some closer relationships.
 Emphasize the beliefs and teachings of a religion. Through the rituals, religious
beliefs and teachings are put into practice.

5. THE SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL DIMENSION

Fellowship – the idea of people coming together as a group. Religion is a social and corporal
thing. It is about how they interact and relate with each other, it gives them identity, sense of
sharing, communal life.
Both Oriental and Judeo – Christian religions have religious communities which bring them
together and give them a sense of belonging. In all these religions adherents may worship as
individuals or in groups. The religious communities unite the adherents of their respective
religions. The following are religious communities of the Judeo – Christian and oriental
religions.
Religion Religious communities
Christianity Church, congregation
Islam Ummah
Baha’i Faith Baha’i community
Hinduism Caste e.g., Brahmins, untouchables, etc.
Sikhism Khalsa
Buddhism Sangha

IMPORTANCE
 It unites religious communities. When these rituals are performed, followers come
together in perfoming the relevant activities.
 Provides support for the followers. Through these rituals, believers social needs such
as emotional, spiritual and material support are offered.
 It provides a sense of belonging and identity. Followers are able to identify
themselves with these groups that they perform the rituals with.

6. EXPERIENTIAL AND EMOTIONAL DIMENSION

This is the inner experience of the presence of the Supernatural being or power which may
influence and change people’s lives. These experiences may come in the form of visions,

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dreams, revelations and may happen while worshiping e.g., praying, singing, meditation, etc.
The Supreme Being brings together religious phenomena ranging from conversion
experiences to shamanistic trances. Such experiences are frequently taken as a private
affirmation of the individual’s Faith.
 In all Judeo – Christian religions people have an encounter with God in different ways
such as dreams, visions, e.g.,
 In Christianity, Saul who was later known as Paul had a personal encounter with
Jesus. Saul was anti – Christ who hated and persecuted Christians. One day on his
way to Damascus to persecute Christians he had an encounter with Jesus. He was
struck by lightning and fell. He heard a voice calling and saying to him, ‘Why do you
persecute me’ and he replied by saying ‘who are you, Lord? And the voice answered,
‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting’. At this time Saul experienced the presence of
Jesus and he became a changed person. He became the greatest apostle of Jesus who
preached and taught the word of God and established Christian congregations in
different places.
 In Islam, Muhammad had an encounter with Allah through angel Gabriel. While he
was meditating at mount Hira, he had a vision of angel Gabriel who appeared to him
with words written on a piece of cloth and asked him to recite. The words were
written down and later compiled in a book called the Qua’ran, the holy book of Islam.
 In Baha’i Faith, Bahaullah experienced the presence of God while he was in prison.
He became aware that he was the promised messenger of God. It is said that the Holy
Spirit appeared to him and told him to deliver people from bondage. He was faced
with many challenges, but he continued to preach about Baha’i Faith.
 On the other hand, Oriental religions differ from the Judeo – Christian expect in
Sikhism which has the same personal encounter with God as the Judeo – Christian
religions.
 In Sikhism, Guru Nanak had a personal encounter with God while bathing in the river
in the morning. He disappeared and people thought that he had drowned. He appeared
after three days and told people that he was with God who gave him a message to
preach to the people. It is said that when he first appeared he said that ‘there is neither
Hindu nor Muslim’. He told people that he had a vision in which he learned that the
way people live is more important than just following a religion and that people must
know God.
 In Hinduism followers experience the presence of the deities through prayer,
meditation and worship. They use images of the deities when they worship, pray and
meditate. These images are respected and honoured as if they are alive. They are
given some offerings and sacrifices. It is believed that the deities represent a tiny part
of Brahman, hence the respect.
 Buddhists have an experience of something unusual when they reach enlightenment
and be freed from the cycle of samsara.

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IMPORTANCE
 Helps followers to know and understand their religions.
 Makes individuals to improve their lives. These experinces bring a complete
turnaround in an individuals life. One turns to look at life with completely a different
perception.
 Strengthens believer’s faith and beliefs.
 Individuals may use these experiences to promote the growth of the [Link]
may encourage more people to change and join their religion.

7. MATERIAL DIMENSION
This involves physical features and tangible objects of a religion. These include landmarks
such as mountains, rivers, trees, and caves; buildings used as places of worship, holy books,
and religious artefacts. Examples of the material dimension:
Religion Sacred objects Sacred places Sacred literature Symbols
Christianity Font, prayer Church/Temple Bible The cross and
beads, pulpit, the crucifix
altar, icons, etc.
Islam Minbar, prayer Mosque Qua’ran Crescent moon
mats, prayer and star
beads, kaba, niche,
etc.
Bahai Faith Seven valleys, The Baha’i Kitab – I – Adqas, The nine-
hidden words, etc. centre/Temple Tablets of Bahaullah pointed star
Hinduism River Ganges, the Mandir Vedas, Upanishads Lotus flower,
statues of Gods Aum
and goddesses,
sacred fire, etc.
Sikhism 5k’s, turban, Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib Khanda
chauri, takht, etc.
Buddhism Statues of the Monastery, Triptika, Plai canon Wheel of life
Buddha, prayer Buddhi temple
wheels, stupas,
malas.

IMPORTANCE
 Strengthen the faith of [Link] use of materials brings believers closer to their
Supreme being hence their faith is enriched.
 Givers followers’ identity through the symbols and religious attires.
 Shapes the values and behaviors of the [Link] determine what the followers
should use in their religion and how they should dress.
 Helps in explaining certain behaviors in the [Link] example,the holy books in
different religions help in explaining concept in religions.

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COMMON FEATURES WITHIN AFRICAN TRDATIONAL RELIGION AND
HINDUISM
African Traditional Religion
 No founder  One Supreme being – Brahman.
- Evolved form the lifestyle  Trimuti and other deities – each god
/customs of the peopleand can is the reflection of the universal
only be practiced within the spirit, Brahman. One can choose one
cultural context of its followers god concerning certain issues.
so it has not strained to attract  Ancestor veneration – offer food to
converts form outside its cultural their gods and goddesses
unit.  Family shrines – usually decorated
 One Supreme being – Modimo with pictures and statues of their
 Belief in ancestors who are actively gods, family members light a lamb
involved in the lives of people – and pray together each day at the
Modimo is worshipped through the shrines.
ancestors.
 Ancestor veneration  Mountains and rivers as sacred
places e.g., River Ganges and
 Shrines – which are centre of family Himalaya Mountains are regarded as
religious life, used for pouring homes of the gods
libation, performing family rituals,
sacrificing and making offerings and  Discipline – karma
saying prayers.
 Socialisation – roles of boys and
 Mountains and rivers as sacred girls are clearly laid out
places e.g., Tsodilo hill, Tswapong
hills, etc, are believed to be dwelling  Initiation – sacred thread ceremony
places for then ancestral spirits (upanayana)

 Botho (discipline)  Lived in extended families

 Socialisation – roles of boys and  Arranged marriages

girls re clearly laid out
 Payment of dowry
 Initiation schools (bogwera and
bojale)  No specific day of worship.

 Live in extended families

 Arranged marriages

 Payment of dowry

 No specific day of worship.

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EVALUATION
INITIATION SCHOOLS
Theses are traditional forms of education in which they young are socialized into theirs
cultural norms and values. In ATR, boys go for bogwera while girls go for [Link]
Hinduism, the boys go for the sacred thread (Upanayama) while the girls are left out. These
schools could be good in the sense that the young are equipped with skills and knowledge
which prepares then for futures adulthood life. However,since in these schools are both girls
and boys are separated,this is likely to establish dysfunctional relationship since they are not
aware of the education that is provided to each [Link] may also result in issues of gender
inequality and abuse.
ARRANGED MARRIAGES
In both ATR and Hinduism, parents are responsible of choosing the rightful marital partners
for their [Link] ATR, it is the role and responsibility of the man’s parents to look for the
rightful wife for their sons while in Hinduism it is the role of the woman’s parents to choose
the rightful marital husband for their [Link] both religions, children can not dispute the
choice is made by their [Link] is good since it promotes respect among children
towards their parents. However, it violates the rights of the childrens in they are not allowed
to make personal choices.
OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES TOGODS
In both religions, gods/ancestors are offered some items,and sometimes sacrifices are
performed to them. These sacrifice could either be in the form of food items which are
sometimes [Link] offerings and sacrifices are good because they bring the living and the
dead together, Good relationship are enhanced amongst [Link] the other hand,the burning
of some items and spilling of items on the soil may result in both air and soil pollution.
HOW THE ETHICAL DIMENSION ENHANCES SOCIAL HARMONY
This covers religious rules and laws that stem from the narrative and doctrinal aspects of each
tradition. The ethical dimension covers the rules of conduct of a religion which govern
followers on how they should behave towards one another and the environment. It provides
moral values which regulates and harmonize human life. It is this dimension of religion
which tells us what is right and wrong, what is good and bad, what is just and unjust and what
are virtues and vices. By following the various laws or the commandments, the believer seeks
to lead a virtuous life. In the Christian bible there are the beatitudes and in Islam there is the
sharia law.
 If followed these rules of conduct help to build good relationships between followers
and other people.
 Cases of crime may be reduced, through observing laws such as not stealing, killing,
etc.
 Encouraged virtues such as fairness, compassion, empathy, caring, etc.
 Encourages people to be responsible for others who are less privileged through
practices such as mafisa in ATR in Botswana, almsgiving (Zakat) in Islam.
 Unites people and make the world a better place to live in.

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  Encourage the spirit of cooperation, e.g., the golden rule in Christianity.
 Help to resolve conflicts and other challenges in life, e.g., no revenge in Christianity.
 Encourage moral uprightness, e.g., the eight-fold path in Buddhism; right action
avoids immoral behaviours such as stealing, sexual immorality, etc.
 Respect is emphasized in all religions which promotes harmony in the society.
 Baha’i Faith encourages tolerance and emphasize on equality of all people. For
example, in
 CHRISTIANITY-Honour your father and mother, do not murder, and do not steal
etc.
 ISLAM - The Quran also says, God commands justice, kindness and giving to near
relatives while he forbids sexual misconduct, impropriety and insolence.
 BUDDHISM - do not kill, do not steal, do not misuse sex, do not use wrong speech,
do not take harmful drugs.
 HINDUISM - do forgive, be clean, be kind restrain from sexuality and do not be
lazy, do not be lustful, do not be angry, do not be violent, do not be greedy, do not be
aggressive.
FEATURES THAT MAKE BUDDHISM AND BAHAI FAITH DIFFERENT FROM
OTHER RELIGIONS
Buddhism
The doctrinal/philosophical dimension makes both Buddhism and Bahai Faith different from
other religions. Some beliefs and teachings of both Buddhism and Bahai Faith are different
and unique as compared to other religions.
Unlike other religions, Buddhism does not believe in a Supreme Being but in the teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama, which if followed will bring change on an individual’s life.
Buddhism emphasizes on self-perfection in reaching enlightment (end suffering) rather than
dependence on an outside force, one must realise the four noble truths and the eightfold
path.
The Three Universal Truths
 Annica (Impermanence)
 Dukkha (Suffering/unsatisfactoriness)
 Anatta (No Self)
Five Precepts:
 Do not kill.
 Do not steal.
 Do not engage in sexual misconduct.
 Do not lie.
 Do not use intoxicants.

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The Four Noble Truths
 First Noble truth
Dukkha happens everywhere all the time because nothing is perfect. People can
overcome dukkha when they reach nirvana. People experience life as suffering
nobody escapes the pain of sickness, conflict, separation and death. This is to be
comprehended.

 Second Noble truth

Dukkha is caused by greed and selfishness. Everybody is basically selfish.
Buddha said even being reborn is selfish and people should try to break out of the
rebirth cycle. He taught that the reason why people suffer is because they spend
their time wanting and wishing for things like power, pleasure, wealth, security,
beauty etc suffering is caused by desire, and he described it as a fire that burns up
people. This is to be abandoned.

 The third noble truth

Greed and selfishness can be stopped by breaking out of the rebirth cycle which
brings perfect freedom (Nirvana). If people could truly give up their desire—they
would reach peace and enlightenment. He said lack of desire opens the human
heart to love and compassion for all creation because people can look at each
other and the world without jealousy, greed or possessiveness.

 The fourth noble truth

The way to stop selfishness is to follow the eight-fold path (middle way). It is the
way to find this ground or that leads to nirvana.
The way to crush desires is to follow THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH:
The eight-fold path is usually shown as a wheel with eight spokes, and each spoke
shows what is necessary for enlightenment.
 Right understanding / viewpoint - way of looking at things. Look at life the right
way then you can reach nirvana. Following the basic teachings of the Buddha, for
example, accepting that all life is dukkha. This is knowing the difference between
good and bad and the effects of your actions e.g., understanding the noble truths.
 Right intention / thought – mind is powerful and needs to be used in the right way.
Thinking correctly about life leads to one being unselfish and caring more about
others than oneself. Doing things for the right reasons without expecting reward or
recognition e.g., trying to act considerably.
 Right speech – right speech does not cause harm to oneself or others. One should be
kind and helpful when you talk to people and not tell lies, swear or gossip. Non-
abusive speech, language, and speaking without causing harm or offence to others.
 Right action/ behaviour/ conduct – acting in a socially considerate way to others.
Never hurting or disturbing others e.g., loving honestly, and not harming living things
(many Buddhists are vegetarians), avoid killing anything and avoid stealing or being

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 dishonest. Includes being faithful to your husband or wife and not drinking alcohol or
taking drugs because these things are harmful.
 Right living / occupation – someone who wants to follow the Buddha’s teachings
should work to the best of their ability. The job one does should be useful and not
involve anything which harms others. Not earning a living through suffering of others
e.g., not selling alcohol, weapons, meat, and avoiding jobs which harm anyone.
 Right effort - training yourself to avoid bad things is part of the right effort and one
must work hard to do well. Striving to perfect your spiritual path rather than
improving tour material wealth e.g., trying hard to overcome desire and attachment.
 Right mindfulness/awareness – Having awareness of your thoughts and actions so
that you live in harmony with the world e.g. thinking before speech or actions.
Controlling tour mind so that you can see things around you in the same way.
Right concentration – Training your mind to concentrate without wandering is
achieved by meditation and then you can become a very calm and peaceful person.
Practising meditation to gain liberation or NIRVANA, freeing the mind of
distractions, leading to enlightenment and nirvana.
 All the Buddhists emphasize on self-perfection in reaching enlightenment (end
suffering) rather than dependence on an outside force.
 Whatever their ‘cultural backgrounds’, they believe that understanding these truths
and abandoning all negative views to develop only good qualities will bring peace and
happiness in life.
 Eventually when perfected, this will lead to the eternal peace and happiness of
enlightenment or BUDDHAHOOD.
BAHAI FAITH
Although Bahai Faith is a monotheistic religion (believe in one Supreme Being) there is
uniqueness in the elements of the three oneness.
This power or Supreme Being is called by many titles – God, Jehovah, Allah, Yahweh,
Waheguru, etc, all of which are names for the one who is the creator and lord of the universe.
He has sent different messengers at different times in life e.g., Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad,
Guru Nanak, etc.
 Oneness of humanity – Mankind is one. All members of the human family have been
created by the same father the difference is the skin colour and all are dear to him (the
unity in diversity of humankind).
 The oneness of religion – Bahaullah explains that the religion of God is one who has
different manifestations.
 The essential unity of religion – the central message of Baha’i Faith is one unity and
the breaking down of traditional barriers of race, class and creed.
 God is believed to be TRANSCENDENT and UNKNOWABLE but manifest in his
creation, has provided revelations to mankind via a series of divine messengers whose
common purpose has been to bring humankind to spiritual maturity.
 Each of these messengers has been the funder of the world’s great religion.
 Individual investigation of the truth-In the past, faith was often blind and
unquestioning, people believed in something because their family, friends or religious
leaders believed, they did not think and pray to investigate the truth for themselves.

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 This type of faith is no longer acceptable. Bahaullah teaches that each person must
investigate the truth for himself and come to his own conclusion without relying on
someone else’s thinking.
 The elimination of extreme poverty and wealth. Bahai’s each that one must strike a
balance between extremes of poverty and wealth [not too poor and not too rich].
 Science and religion complement each other.
 Their centre of worship is open to all people Bahai or not, this shows a high level of
tolerance in the Bahai Faith.
 Both Buddhism and Bahai Faith are so much concerned with the concept of self or an
individual finding truth on his own rather than depending on an outside force.
EVALUATION
 The teachings and beliefs in Buddhism help in promoting mortality in society.
 Promotes spirit of hard work. The concept of self-perfection encourages people to
introspect and develop a positive attitude towards life.
 However, some teachings such as the world is not permanent may make people to
lose hope in life. People may see no need to perform to their level best since the world
is just an illusion.

TOPIC THREE: ORIGINS OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS

 African traditional religion in Botswana
 Baha’i Faith
 Sikhism
 Christianity
 Islam
 Hinduism
 Buddhism
SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FACTORS THAT LED TO THE ORIGINS
OF CHRISTIANITY, BAHAI FAITH, SIKHISM AND ISLAM RELIGIONS
CHRISTIANITY
SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FACTORS WHICH LED TO THE ORIGIN
OF CHRISTIANITY
Christianity was founded by a man called Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was born in a village
called Bethlem in Judea (modern day Israel) almost 2000 years ago. His earthly parents were
Mary and Joseph. According to the bible, Jesus’s birth was a miracle. An angel appeared to
his mother Mary, a virgin engaged to Joseph and told her that she was going to conceive by
the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to God’s son. The angel told Joseph to marry and
name the baby Jesus which means ‘saviour’.
Jesus was born into a Jewish family at a time when the Roman ruled Palestine. He grew up
practising pure Jewish traditions and customs. Jesus was born when King Herod ruled. Herod
felt threatened by the birth of Jesus and ordered the killing of all children up to the age of two

16
years old. Mary and Joseph escaped to Egypt with Jesus and lived there for a while. They
returned to Nazareth after the death of Herod.
For some years John the Baptist had been predicting the coming of messiah who would save
the Jews from the oppression of foreign rulers. By the time of Jesus, the Messiah was used to
refer to a man that God would send to drive out the Romans and restore Israel to the greatness
it had enjoyed during the time of King David. When Jesus was 30 years old, he was baptised
in the river Jordan by John the Baptist and stayed in the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and
40 nights and was tempted by the devil. At Jesus’ baptism, God said, ‘This is my son, the
beloved, whom I have approved’. After his baptism, Jesus started preaching about the
kingdom of God. He preached about God and encouraged people to change their immoral
behaviour. He healed the sick, cast out demons and raised people from the dead. He taught
people to love one another, to be kind and forgiving. In his sermons he referred to himself as
the son of God and the promised messiah who has come to set the captives and the poor free.
Sometimes Jesus interpreted the scriptures differently to the way the Jewish did. Jesus was
displeased with the Jewish leaders. He explained the scriptures and in most cases tried to
show that what the Pharisees preached was either not true or practical. He explained that the
Pharisees concentrated too much on keeping the Jewish laws without trying to follow God’s
word.
He showed no discrimination in his relationships with people. His messages appealed to the
poor, those regarded as outcasts and those who felt oppressed by the pharisees and the Jewish
leadership. He did all these things to teach people how they should live and to show that he
really is God’s son. Jesus chose twelve apostles to help him in his ministry. In the three years
of preaching, he attracted a large following. This posed a threat to the Jewish religious
leaders.
His teachings upset both the Romans and the Jewish leaders. The Romans thought he wanted
to overthrow their government while Jewish leaders thought he was trying to make them look
silly in the eyes of the people. They felt that he encouraged people to break the religious laws
or weaken the Jewish religion. The chief priest and elders in Jerusalem accused Jesus of
misleading people by his teachings and calling himself a messiah. They decided to arrest
Jesus and have him tried by the governor, Pontius Pilate. At the age of 33 Jesus was arrested,
tried and sentenced to death through crucifixion. The Bible says Jesus rose from the dead
after three days. After his resurrection, he lived for forty days on earth before he ascended to
heaven.
The resistance of Jesus and his followers led to the development of Christianity. The
persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ after his death meant that many fled to Jerusalem
and to the surrounding towns to spread his teachings. In this way the teachings of Jesus were
spread to other areas. Today Christianity is one of the world’s major religions and churches
are found all over the world.
Socio-economic factors
 Performance of miracles such as healing lepers, paralytic man.
 He showed great concern for the poor, who were made to suffer by those in authority;
they were made to pay heavy taxes, oppressed and some worked as slaves. He openly
condemned acts of oppression and the rich who manipulated the poor. He said that

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 they were not part of the Kingdom of God. Some changed their wicked ways and this
also brought happiness to the poor.
 Jesus made it a point of helping social outcasts, non-Jews and women.
 He also forgave sins which the Jews believed only God could.
 He taught about the coming of the Kingdom, which is open to all people, including
tax collectors, prostitutes, the poor, as long as they have faith, this was something not
thought of before his coming.
Political factors
 Oppression under Roman rule.
 They were waiting for the messiah who was already predicted.
They expected the messiah to be a political leader, who would liberate them from
foreign rule, as they were oppressed under the Roman rule.
 Those who believed him to be the promised deliverer of the Jewish people and the
saviour of the world broke away from Judaism and became Christians.
 Jesus condemned some Jewish teachings and traditions.
 The chief priest and elders in Jerusalem accused Jesus of misleading people by his
teachings and calling himself the Messiah.
 Jesus was a threat to the leadership, which was already there and their people, the
Romans thought that Jesus wanted to overthrow their government while the Jewish
people thought that he wanted to make them look silly in the eyes of the people
because of his new teachings and beliefs. They plotted to kill him, and his killing
became the doctrine of Christianity.
BAHAI FAITH
SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FACTORS WHICH LED TO THE ORIGIN
OF BAHAI FAITH
Bahai Faith was founded in the 1860’s in Persia (now called Iran) by Mirza Husayn-Ali-Nuri
who came to be known as “Bahaullah” an Arabic name which means the “Glory of God”.
Mirza Husayn-Ali-Nuri was born on the 12 November 1817 in Tehran, Persia (now known as
Iran). His father, Mirza Buzurg was a wealthy government minister. In 1835 he got married
to a daughter of another wealthy man and they had three children, a son, Abdul Baha born of
in 1844, a daughter, Bahiyyih, born in 1846 and another son, Mihdi born in 1848.
Bahaullah was given an offer to become a minister in the Persian government, but he
declined it and chose to dedicate his life to charity work. His generosity and kindness earned
him the name “father of the poor”.
However, the faith’s origin dates to 1844 when Siyyid Ali – Muhammad (the Bab meaning
the Gate) declared himself a gateway or messenger of God. The Bab told people that he had
been sent to prepare the way for another great messenger of God who would lead humankind
to a peaceful era. The Bab started a religion called Babism and recruited Mirza Husayn-Ali-
Nuri as one of his followers. The Babi religion gained popularity but did not last long as the
as the followers suffered much persecution. The Bab was imprisoned and martyred (put to
death for his religious beliefs) in 1850.

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After the Bab’s execution Mirza Husayn-Ali-Nuri was imprisoned twice with other Babis.
The government and the religious leaders wanted them to be sentenced to death. Because of
his charity work and high social position, Bahaullah was not killed. Instead he was put in a
dungeon in Tehran called the “Black pit”. While he was in the pit, Bahaullah said that God
revealed that he was God’s chosen messenger foretold by the Bab.
After four months, he was released from the Black pit and kept in different prisons, while in
prison, Bahaullah wrote more than 100 books, the most Holy Book being the Kitab-I-Aqdas.
In 1863, Bahaullah declared that he was God’s promised one as foretold by the Bab. He was
often imprisoned or sent into exile by the government. He died in Akka on 29 May 1892 at
75 years old. In his will, he chose his eldest son, Abdul Baha, as the Bahai community leader
and interpreter of his writings.
Socio-economic factors:
 He was against the religious oppression imposed on people during his time in his
homeland, Iran.
 He wanted people to know that religion is one, humanity is one and God is for us all
and different only mark different stages in the history of human beings.
 He was against immorality such as gambling, violence, substance abuse and back
biting.
 His exile helped him to carry the message to different places.
 God revealed to him, in the dungeon (a black pit underground) called Siyachal,
making him aware that he is the promised one, who is to bring in a new age of
universal peace. His message was of the coming of the new society one identity by
high oral standards and purity of hearts.
 He wanted to eliminate all prejudices.
Political Factors
 He wanted to establish world peace.
 This message angered both the religious and government leaders who saw it as
dangerous, heresy and a threat to their position. He was arrested and imprisoned several
times and accused of trying to assassinate the Shah.
 God revealed to him, in the dungeon (a black pit underground) called Siyachal, making
him aware that he is the promised one, who is to bring in a new age of universal peace.
His message was of the coming of the new society one identity by high moral standards
and purity of hearts.
SIKHISM
SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FACTORS WHICH LED TO THE ORIGIN
OF SIKHISM
The Sikh faith was revealed through the messengers who lived in North India between 1469
and 1707 CE. These men were called Sikh Gurus. The political circumstances of the sixteenth
century in India resulted in a movement within Hinduism emerging as an independent religion.
The Hindu religion society was divided into caste system (social class system):

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  Brahmins – priests (higher classes)
 Kshatryas – warriors, members of commercial or administrative class of the Hindu
society.
 Vapyas – workers
 Sudras – unskilled workers
 Untouchables – lower class
The Sikh gurus were all Kshatryas, therefore they had the right to study the Vedas but not to
teach it. However they insisted that their revelation came direct from God, not from the Vedas
and that it was he who gave them the message to preach, and authority to proclaim it. Th
essence of their preaching was that there is only one God, who is the creator and sustainer of
all life. People of all classes, Brahmis and Shundras, men and women, rich and the poor, are
equally in his care and may receive enlightenment and spiritual liberation in this present life.
God takes the initiative in bringing people spiritual freedom. All they must do is respond to his
grace with faithful obedience. Such people should live useful existence as house holders,
serving God through worship, honest hard work, and being generous to the poor and the needy.
Sikhism began in the Punjab region of north – west India and it is regarded as one of the
youngest world religions. It started with the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. He
belonged to a middle-class Hindu family and received a good education. He was married and
had two sons. Guru Nanak was born in Talwindi village in Pakistan.
Nanak grew up as a Hindu but had Muslim friends. He worked for a Muslim shop owner as an
accountant. In his service he learned about a religion of Islam. This meant that he had
knowledge of both Hinduism and Islam.
Nanak was known to have disliked most Hindu practices. He was not happy about the social
issues that were prevailing at that time, for example the issue of the social classes and sati
practice. He did not belief in showing religion outwardly. He felt that true religion was more
about one’s attitude to God than how you presented yourself.
One morning while having a bath in the local river before the dawn prayers, Nanak disappeared.
Three days after, when all hopes of discovering him alive had gone, he re-appeared. He told
his friends that he has been take to God’s court and there, he was given a cup of nectar to drink,
with the instructions that he should rejoice in God’s name and teach others to do the same. The
message was that there is no Hindu or Muslim, in other words all people are equal and should
be given the same respect, true worship means that we should live as brothers and sisters, as
this is what it means to know God. He was told to spend the rest of his lifetime teaching people,
calling them to true worship. After this experience, Nanak and his friend went travelling
throughout India singing songs of praise to God and teaching. This earned him the title Guru
which is only given to respected teachers of religion in India. The guru left his work as an
accountant to become a full-time teacher, helping men and women to know the God who was
quietly present in their hearts. Guru Nanak’s missionary journeys occupied the next twenty
years of his life, until about [Link] then settled down in a village called Katarpur and there
he established the first Sikh community. The word Sikh comes from a Punjab verb, sikhna,
meaning to learn and was the name that came to be applied to the disciples of Guru Nanak who
gathered around him to receive his teachings.

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Before his death, Nanak chose his friend Lehna as his successor and gave him the name Angad.
Eight other gurus were appointed in succession. Before the tenth guru died, Guru Gobind Singh
died he declared that there would be no other gurus. Instead, the teachings of the ten gurus were
compiled into the sacred book, the Guru Granth Sahib. As the name implies, it is seen and
treated with great respect as it continues the Sikh tradition.
Socio - Economic factors:

 Guru Nanak did not like the case system which classified people according to social
groups.
 He was not happy with the inequality that existed between men and women.
 Was also against the Sati system, where the widow had to throw her-self in her husband
burial fire.
 Was also against the killing of the girl child and the payment of the dowry (how it was
done).
Political factors:
 To defend the rights of all who are wrongfully oppressed or persecuted irrespective
religion colour, caste, or creed.
 Was against the forced conversion of the Hindus to Islam by the Mughal authorities.

 Note: The conflict between the Muslims (Mughal) and Hindus/Sikhs led to the
Sikhs developing a political identity
ISLAM
SOCIO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FACTORS WHICH LED TO THE ORIGIN
OF ISLAM
Many years after Judaism was established and about 600 years after the birth of Christianity,
Islam was founded in the Arabian Peninsula. People in this area were mostly traders and their
trading took them to distant places, exchanging ideas and skills. Then they became aware of
other religions such as Judaism and Christianity. They were influenced by many ideas of the
Jews in Canaan from where they learnt about the belief in one God, and some embraced it.
Islam was founded by an Arab man, Prophet Muhammad who was born in the city of Mecca
in Saudi Arabia in the year 570 CE. He was an orphan and was poor. Muhammad was a good
and upright person, very honest and hardworking, kind and responsible and as a result he was
liked by everyone in Mecca. He was also a very religious person who spent most of his time
meditating. Most of the people who lived in Mecca were traders. It was a trade centre, and a
shrine was built in Mecca called the Ka’ba dedicated to one God, thus Mecca became a holy
city.
Local leaders became corrupt and the Ka’ba, which was meant to be dedicated to one God,
became the centre of trade for idols. This depressed Muhammad. He was against what he felt
was a lack of moral behaviour among his people. The people of Arabia worshipped idols and
made sacrifices to them, gambled, spent most of their time drinking alcohol and fighting, the
rich ill-treated the poor, women and children and some prostituted themselves, they were

21
involved in many tribal disputes and warfare which led to cruelties and bloodshed. There was
corruption and theft, and most people were motivated by greed and the result was that a few
people were very rich, and many were very, very poor. He also did not support the class
system and the poor treatment of those who were regarded as lower classes.
Muhammad was concerned about how bad most of the community was. Because of the
distressing situation, he fasted and prayed and one day angel Gabriel appeared to him with a
message from Allah and also appeared to him several times and gave him messages which
were later complied into a book known as the Qur’an. The messages were about how people
should live.
Muhammad shared his experiences with the people in his town. His friend Abu Baker and his
wife, Khadijah were the only ones who believed what he told them. The leaders and other
influential people rejected his teachings. This is because he condemned the very practices
from which the leaders profited. He attacked their low morals and their treatment of poor
people. The leaders punished those who accepted his message and even plotted to kill him. In
the year 622 CE he fled from Mecca to Medina, a journey called the Hijra. He preached the
same message to the people of Medina who listened to him and accepted his message. Peace
finally came to a town that had had a history of conflicts and fights. The belief in one God
brought unity to the town. The year 622 CE marked the beginning of Islam as a religion.
By 630 CE, Muhammad had a large number of followers. He persuaded his followers to
march with him back to Mecca where he waged Jihad (a holy war) to stop people from doing
the things that were wrong. The idols in the Ka’ba were destroyed and then Mecca was
established as the centre of Islam and the followers came to be known as Muslims.
Socio economic factors:
 Gambling
 Violence
 Ill-treatment of the poor
 Oppression of women and girl child
 Idol worship
 Alcohol abuse
 Prostitution
Political factors:
 Strong opposition from those in leadership
 He went back to Mecca and fought with the help of the people of Medina.
 He threw idols out of the Ka’ba and turned it into a sacred place for the Muslims.
 Enmity between people of certain tribes who wanted to be in control of the Ka’ba.

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REASONS FOR THE PROLIFERATION OF RELIGIONS IN BOTSWANA
Proliferation of religions means the sudden increase in the number of religions.
Some of the factors which helped the spread of world religions to other parts of Botswana are
as follows:
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
In Botswana, there is freedom of worship. People are free practice their religion in any part of
the country. The constitution of Botswana says that every religious community may establish
its own place of worship.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
Freedom of worship has helped people tolerate other people’s religions. Although
Christianity was established before other world religions, relations between the different
religions are generally good and friendly.
MIGRATION
There are people who have moved from their countries to Botswana for one reason or
another. These people brought their religion with them which they started practising and
spreading around the country e.g., some of the followers came in the to do business and
through their interaction with the villagers some Batswana became interested in their beliefs
and practices and were converted to these religions.
CONVERTING RELIGIONS
There is no law stopping people from converting others to their religious faith in Botswana.
Some world religions have been preaching their doctrines to Batswana to convert them to
their religions.
SOCIO ECONOMIC PROJECTS
Belief in Christianity, Islam and Bahai Faith has spread because these religions have
developed projects to help the people off Botswana, especially the underprivileged and
people with special needs e.g., Christian priests and followers of the Bahai Faith visit clinics
and hospitals and conduct morning prayers for patients, Muslims give food to the old and the
poor every Friday at their shops.
SPIRITUAL HUNGER AND THE REVELANCE OF THE NEW RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS AND TEACHINGS TO BOTSWANA CULTURE
Religions like Christianity, Islam and Bahai Faith applied their teachings to the Setswana
culture so that Batswana would be able to understand the teachings better. Many Batswana
therefore felt comfortable with the teachings of these religions and became followers. For
example, Muslim men are allowed to marry to marry more than one wife. This teaching is
like the belief in polygamy in Botswana culture. Many of the world religions also share a
belief in life after death. These teachings made sense to many Batswana, and this encouraged
them to convert.

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LACK OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
Some Christian church denominations (e.g., the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Dutch
Reformed Church and the London Missionary Society) built healthcare facilities in the form
of hospitals at Kanye, Mochudi and Molepolole. These include Kanye Seventh Day Adventist
Hospital, the Deborah Retief Hospital at Mochudi and the Scottish Livingstone Hospital at
Molepolole. Nurses were trained to work at these hospitals.

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