A history of religions and religious processes among the tembaro people, southern Ethiopia: 1891-1974

Abstract

This study deals with the religious history of the Tembaro people of southern Ethiopia from 1891 -1974. Some of the studies carried out in the study area are mostly concentrated on cultural history and not focused the religious history. The aim of this thesis, basing on qualitative analysis of oral traditions, written sources and archives, is to present the religious history of Tembaro people. Thus, it sought to avail the reader with critical information that might help to fill this gap. This thesis emphasis on the history of religion and religious processes with changes and continuities among the Tembaro people .Its aim is reconstructing the religious history and its processes among the Tembaro by means of examining the attributes of the society from the Cultural, socio- political and economic perspectives. The thesis reflects the processes of change and continuity that have occurred and constructed and shaped the religious history and religious practices of Tembaro.The factors contributing for the rise and expansion of the universal religion among the Tembaro are part of the discussion. The different types of government system have appeared in the country. These brought its own contribution for the religious development in Tembaro and the historical development of the universal religions and the relevant features. It helped the processes of conversation of the traditional religions to monotheistic religions. The expansion of monotheistic religion brought unreserved changes in the life of the people and the rise and expansions of the universal religions influenced the indigenous or traditional religion and contributed for the various social services for Tembaro people.The study, moreover, deals with the religious setting, the traditional religious system as well as the introduction and expansion of Orthodox, Islam and protestant religions and its contributions to the society. For instance, the different types of religious institutions like the orthodox Tewaahedo church, the different sects of protestant churches and the catholic churches engaged themselves in rendering holistic services for the people of the area such as by opening schools, clinics, helping poor people, building water pip, building the local roads and carrying out other development works. The people of Tembaro developed and shared the socio-cultural affairs and co-existed peacefully and developed the feeling of religious tolerance.