Religion as imperialism: A critique of africa's experience

There is no doubt that religion-when it is not abused or misinterpreted by its practitioners-can play a critical role in the life of an individual and in the running of the affairs of the society. However, this essay critically examines the phenomenon of religion as it constitutes imperialism against the backdrop of Africa's experience. It is argued that the Christian religion-which is the main focus of analysis in this essay-was a dependable tool in the hands of the colonialists in establishing and sustaining colonialism in various parts of Africa for many decades. It is also contended that the African has always been an innately religious person, and before the advent of Christianity and other foreign religions, Africans had their own mode of social organization which catered for their religious and other needs. And this explains why the culture of every African society had (and still has) a name for, and the way(s) of worshipping, the Almighty.