The calling of the church in contemporary society: How the church communicates the gospel in Tanzania in a context of religious pluralism

Abstract

Pluralism is a term used in diverse societies denoting a system of beliefs in which people believe all kinds of different things yet tolerate each other's beliefs even when they don't match their own. It is the doctrine of duality and unity; it is a system of beliefs holding that there is not just one consistent means of approaching the truth about the world, but rather many. However, pluralism has different meaning in metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, logic, and theology. In metaphysics, pluralism entails that there are many different substances in nature that constitute reality. In ontology, pluralism refers to different ways/modes of the genesis of things such as that of human beings and everything else that exists on earth. For epistemology, pluralism holds the point of view that there not one consistent means of approaching the truth about the world, but many. In logic, pluralism holds the view that there is not just one correct logic, so therefore there is more than one correct logic, and in theology, pluralism is an ideology that entails that Salvation can be obtained/found in any religion. In the society of Tanzania, there are three main religions: these are (1) Indigenous African Religion(s) (2) Christianity, and (3) Islam. According to a census conducted in 1967, Indigenous African Religion (s) constitute 37 percent, Christians were 32 percent, while, Muslims were 30 percent, and 1 percent, indicated those who adhered to other religions (Ndaluka 2012:2; Foster 1997:65). Currently, the Indigenous African Religion(s) are declining even though there is a tendency towards syncretism. Thus some people negotiate between Christianity or Islam with Indigenous African Religion(s). According to Kilaini (1995), it is estimated that by 2025 there will be a decline of approximately 9.2 percent of the Indigenous African Religion(s) (Kilaini 1995:1). However, since independence in 1961, the state of Tanzania declared itself to be a secular government and consequently it guaranteed freedom of worship. In its constitution, it states: "Every person has the right to freedom, to have a conscience, or faith, and a choice in matters of religion, including the freedom to change his religion or faith" (URT Constitution Cap. 2 of 2005: Article 19 (1) (Forster 1997:35; Ndaluka 2012:2). Therefore, due to religious differences and freedom of worship the church in Tanzania exists in a religious pluralist context where tolerance, love, respect, and accepting one another's ideas, beliefs, and faith are significant for maintaining peace and the well-being of society. This phenomenon has raised the question of whether the church at some point might have compromised the gospel. In regard to the church in this research, it includes only three denominations that are regarded as the oldest in Tanzania: these are - the Catholics, Lutherans, and the Anglicans which are investigated to find out about the situation of the church. However, the history may be different in other denominations that are not included in this research; those findings may then also be dissimilar to that of these denominations which have been investigated and included in this research. Therefore, the denominations that are not included in this study are open for further research.