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South Africans follow many different religions and customs. South Africa has a wide diversity of religions. South African culture is widely based on Christian traditions, but many other religious traditions. Africans before the Europeans had a animistic religious outlook. There were, however, many different people, both tribes that had lived in South africa an recently moved into southern Africa. This there are a range of African religious traditions. The religion in South Africa followed by the Khoisan peoples are complicated. Traditionally the Khoisan people fear one supreme god who they believe controlls the whole world. They developed rituals and made small sacrifices. They also feared an evil deity who they blamed for pain and misery. Their religious beliefs over time were influenced by the European settlers. The people of the remote areas of neigboring Botswana and Namibia still follow some of the Khoisan religious practices. The Government in the past has promoted Christianity. About 80 percent of the country identifies as being Christian. Most South African Christians are Protestants or Anglicans ften included in the Protesrant trdition. . There are a number of denominations. The Portuguese were the first European settlers to reach South Africa. The first European settles. however, were Dutch. These Dutch settlers were members of the Dutch Reformed Church. French Hugenoughts and Jews expanded the religious makeup. The British brought the Anglican Church and many other denominations. Indian workers brought the Hindu and Muslim faith.
South Africans follow many different religions and customs. South Africa has a wide diversity of religions. South African culture is widely based on Christian traditions, but many other religious traditions. Africans before the Europeans had a animistic religious outlook. There were, however, many different people, both tribes that had lived in South africa an recently moved into southern Africa. This there are a range of African religious traditions. The religion in South Africa followed by the Khoisan peoples are complicated. Traditionally the Khoisan people fear one supreme god who they believe controlls the whole world. They developed rituals and made small sacrifices. They also feared an evil deity who they blamed for pain and misery. Their religious beliefs over time were influenced by the European settlers. The people of the remote areas of neigboring Botswana and Namibia still follow some of the Khoisan religious practices.
The primary religion in South Africa is Christianity. The Government in the past, under both the Dutch and British, has promoted Christianity. About 80 percent of South Africans identifies as being Christian. Most South African Christians are Protestants or Anglicans, often included in the Protestant trdition. There are a number of denominations. The Portuguese were the first European settlers to reach South Africa. Rounding the Cape, opened trade with the East, but they did not settle the area. The first European settles were Dutch. These Dutch settlers were members of the Dutch Reformed Church and fervently religious. And the Dutch with their Reform Church eventually became known as Afriknners. The English who followed the Dutch had more varied Christian traditions, but the most important was Anglicanism. French Hugenoughts meaning Protestants expanded the religious makeup. The Anglican Church played aole in the struggle against Apartheid. One of the leading spokesmen was Bishop Desmond Tutu. Tutu in recent years has spoke less about theology and more like a Communist activist. The Anglican Church in Britain has also become less theological and more liberal. There are also small numbers of Catholic and Orthodox Christians.
Jew also reached South Africa in small numbers. As in the Netherlands themselves, there was an element of toleration no widely seen in many other European countries until modern times.
Indian workers brought the Hindu faith to South Africa.
There are also small numbers of Muslims in South Africa, many from India.
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