BHU2202: RELIGION AND POLITICAL MOVEMENT IN AFRICA

NAME: MUGO DUNCAN WAWERU REG NO: BEDA/2020/67026

ASSIGMENT
QUESTION ONE
Discuss the role of religion as a driving agent of transformation in Africa today
(15 marks)
a) Political sanity

Religion helps to dictate how politics should be done in African countries. For
instance, here in Kenya when politicians go for religious masses, the religious
leaders ask politicians to be tolerant to each other irrespective of the political side
that one is affiliated to. Too much politics can make a country fail to achieve
certain developments goals and hence if the advice coming from religious leaders
is adhered to, then all can be well. Sometime back when religious leaders saw the
indifferences between uhuru Kenyatta (president of Kenya) and Ruto (deputy
president of Kenya), they asked them to sit down and sought out their issues
b) Religion Promotes welfare

Religion teaches people to serve the masses and promote their welfare. It gives
message that "the service to humanity is service to God". For this reason, people
spend money to feed poor and needy. Great religions like Hinduism, Islam, and
Christianity etc. put emphasis on aim-giving to the poor and beggars. Its
developers the philanthropic attitude of the people and thereby injects the idea
of mutual help and co-operation. E.g. the Anglican Diocese of Marsabit and Norm
and Janelle Gorrie’s ministry, Anglican Aid supporting internally displaced people
in Northern Kenya with food relief and a community shelter. Due to Escalating
tribal violence in the region, homes were being destroyed. Since the beginning of
2021, more than 100 people had been killed in the conflict. Families were forced
to flee, searching for safety. Norm Gorrie, a CMS missionary from Sydney who
works in the area, pleaded for help to be able to cater for those people.
 c) Involvement in improving and offering higher education

In today’s Africa, education is key. Major religious institutions have started

educational institutions where people are equipped with values, skills, morals and
attitudes in order to make them better Africans. Such institutions include Catholic
University of East Africa, Kenya Methodist University and others.
d) Eradicating social practices passed by time

Religion helps in creating an ethical framework and also a regulator for values in
day to day life. This particular approach helps in character building of a person. In
other words, Religion acts as an agency of socialization. Social practices such as
polygamy, female genital mutilation (FGM) and oppressing the girl child are
things that are unethical. Religious bodies in Africa hold seminars, summits and
conventions to help to understand and be well equipped in handling such issues.
Religious bodies are also at the forefront of enlightening Africans on the expected
positive values.

e) Economic growth through Job opportunities

Various religious institutions in Africa are important because when they engage in
other sectors, they offer employment to Africans hence they uplift people’s way of
life and also boost the economies of African countries.
f) Churches engage in development dialogue on Africa

During a World Council of Churches (WCC) consultation in Arusha, Tanzania

back then in 27 February to 1 March, 2013.the (WCC) was Organized by the
WCC’s Poverty, Wealth and Ecology programme, in cooperation with the All
Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the event was hosted by the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Tanzania. At the consultation, participants highlighted the
need to go beyond a critique of mainstream economic agendas. Together with
people’s movements and civil society, churches must begin to shape and promote a
“transformative development agenda”. This agenda, they said, is based on just
economic relationships between countries based on the concept of “life in fullness
for all” and ecological harmony as its goal. Such dialogues ensure that Africa is on
the right path of development and transformation.
QUESTION TWO
Using examples from contemporary politics, differentiate between Socialism and
Communism as political ideologies (15 marks)

Differences between Socialism and Communism as political ideologies

a) In socialism individuals own property but the industrial and production
capacity is communally owned and managed by a democratically elected
government whereas in communism, economic resources is publicly owned,
controlled by the state and individuals lack personal property or assets
whereas in
b) In socialism, Production is intended to meet individual and societal needs
and distributed according to individual ability and contribution whereas in
communism, production is intended to meet all basic human needs and is
distributed to the people at no charge.
c) In socialism, Classes exist but differences are diminished. It is possible for
some people to earn more than others whereas in communism, Class is
abolished. The ability to earn more than other workers is almost nonexistent

Examples using contemporary politics

1. Socialism
 most modern countries that identify themselves to be socialist may not
strictly follow the economic or social systems associated with pure
socialism. Instead, most countries generally considered socialist actually
employ the policies of democratic socialism.
 Norway, Sweden, and Denmark all employ similar predominantly socialist
systems. The democratically chosen governments of all three countries
provide free health care, education, and lifetime retirement income. As a
result, however, their citizens pay some of the world’s highest taxes.All
three countries also have highly successful capitalist sectors. With most of
their needs provided by their governments, the people see little need to
accumulate wealth. As a result, about 10% of the people hold more than
65% of each nation’s wealth.
2. Communism
  The following Three countries are typically considered communist states—
mainly due to their political structures.

 These countries are Cuba, China, and North Korea.

 China

The Communist Party of China owns and strictly controls all industry, which
operates solely to generate profits for the government through its successful and
growing export of consumer goods. Health care and primary through higher
education are run by the government and provided free of charge to the people.
 Cuba

The Communist Party of Cuba owns and operates most industries, and most of the
people work for the state. Government-controlled health care and primary through
higher education are provided free. Housing is either free or heavily subsidized by
the government.
 North Korea

Ruled by the Communist Party until 1946, North Korea now operates under a
“Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.” However,
the government owns and controls all farmland, workers, and food distribution
channels. Today, the government provides universal health and education for all
citizens. Private ownership of property is forbidden. Instead, the government grants
people the right to government-owned and assigned homes.

STRICTLY NOTE THE FOLLOWING

1. This work aims to test your understanding of the subject matter, hence YOUR IDEAS
and input is core.
2. COPYING AND PASTING material from any source (plagiarism) is an academic
offence/malpractice and is punishable
3. DATELINES are part and parcel of examination and therefore should be observed.
4. Give proper reference of any work cited
5. Observe proper FORMATTING of term paper