Christianity is Moving to Africa. How Will it Change

The Pope is naming more African Cardinals. The Methodists are splitting up because the growing African membership will not endorse gay marriage or clergy. One thing the human experience has shown us is that cultures invent religions to reenforce current beliefs and values. It is inevitable African culture will mold the next version of Christianity. This link discusses the emerging differences between the African continent and the West.

Since much of Africa is poorer than much of the West it changes the cultural and political environment. Abortion, for example, is as common in Africa than in the U.S. Some countries have strict laws against it but others do not. Enforcement differs more widely than in the West. 

Some countries have laws punishing homosexuality with death. Certainly there are Christians in the U.S. that believe such a thing but this represents how difficult it might be to merge the Christianity of the West with the political culture of Africa.

Apparently, there were Christians in Africa by the second century CE. It's size and wide variety of histories make it difficult generalize. What we do know is that both Protestant denominations and the Catholic church continue to spend lots of money trying to expand their footprints there. Whatever is the point? If either stopped growing there it would harm no one. If collection plate money keeps being sent there I guess it is good for that economy. If the money is spent there with the belief it saves souls from hell, raises the moral standards, defeats Satan, replaces bad religions with a better one or any other such nonsense, it is money wasted.

From the Methodist experience we might see the ideas from cultures on the African continent move into denominations that formerly were run by the West. If delegates from Africa at international conferences of denominations vote in alignment with their native country we may see resolutions endorsing death to homosexuals. After sending millions of dollars for missionary work there to see a result like that would be sobering to say the least. Yet, it doesn't see out of the question it could happen.