Cultural Syncretism in Africa & America vs. Asia

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Legacies of cultural syncretism compared
Indian and Chinese Resistance to western civilization
Differences syncretism would make to China and India today
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Syncretism is the act of bringing together several different and contradicting beliefs; to form different beliefs because of incorporating and or omitting some of the individual practices (Rheenen 2006). We can see this in different cultures and religious beliefs. It attempts to promote understanding among different beliefs for harmonious living. Syncretism can on the contrary lead to the loss of the original culture and belief of a society.

Legacies of cultural syncretism compared

Africans found their way to America during the slave trade (Sayre 2009). They found indigenous Americans and interacted with them while exchanging their beliefs. They adopted, rejected, and incorporated different beliefs in their original practices. Finally, a culture acceptable to both parties emerged. The two different cultures became one.

Africanism symbolizes the practices in American cultural beliefs that one can trace back to Africa. Their contribution to the industry and hence economic growth is exemplary. It is worth noting that Africans have contributed a lot in influencing the food Americans use. For instance, the rice the modern people in America enjoy is African.

Modern Americans decorate their art with African flavors. This is open in modern jazz that has African flavor and the use of modified African instruments. This flavor has really helped the rock and jazz industry to grow strongly. African-American music is the only combination enjoyed by most people.

According to (Hoyer 1998), the United States of America is the world’s major economy. The role of syncretism is clear in the growth and development of this superpower. The flexibility of its occupants and their willingness to interact in exchanging ideas is a milestone. Harmonious living among them gives everyone a sense of belonging. It is through flexibility to change that they were able to create a reckoning power in the USA.

The American religions have also elements of both indigenous people and Africans. It symbolizes diversity and freedom. As a result of intermingling, we have the best from the two cultures. This makes the whole practice perfect. It promotes understanding and a sense of belonging to the different beliefs involved (Leopold 2004).

Indian and Chinese Resistance to western civilization

On contrary to African and American syncretism lies the Indian and Chinese resistance to cultural change. The first attempt of Europeans to bring western civilization to these two countries was disastrous. The encounter resulted in two wars in china (1840 and 1860). Moreover, it experienced a long resistance of Chinese to the Western civilization. The Chinese viewed Europeans as opium traders.

It was not easy to bring civilization to the Chinese and India. They were all pinned to their cultures were very careful in evaluating new cultures. They had a difficult time sustaining free trade between them and the Western countries. In India, the westerners faced the same challenges. Western culture was a disruption of their good cultures and beliefs. The introduction of that foreign culture was a way of abandoning their precious beliefs.

Westerners used several attempts to make them accept the Western culture. For instance, the Christians approached them by training a few of them to accept their way of life. They then incorporated them in the mission of spreading this religion to other fellow Chinese and Indians.

Differences syncretism would make to China and India today

Africans and Americans accepted syncretism and made the USA what it is today. This is a lesson to China and India. The two countries started to experience fast economic growth when they started accepting some aspects of change. Had they done it earlier, today China and India would be among the best economies in the world. Their blend of religious and cultural beliefs would even surpass that of the United States of America.

Conclusion

It is essential for countries to be more flexible to change while evaluating and accepting to mix the best from amongst beliefs.

References

Hoyer, T. (1998). Dancing Ghosts: Native American and Christian Syncretism in Mary Austin’s Work. Nevada: University of Nevada Press.

Leopold M. and Jensen S. (2004). Syncretism in Religion: A Reader. London: Routledge.

Lindenfeld, D. (2011). Beyond Conversion & Syncretism: Indigenous Encounters with Missionary Christianity. Oxford: Berghahn Books.

Rheenen, V. (2006) Contextualization and Syncretism: Navigating Cultural Currents. LA: William Carey Library Pub.

Sayre, H. (2009). Discovering the Humanity. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

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