In modern society, Africa is considered one of the poorest nations. Much of the nations lives in absolute poverty as well as somehow being affected by the AIDS pandemic. With the lack of food and clean water, the modern day plague, and the ever present fear of natural disasters, why would Africans even want to get out of bed?
I believe that much of what influences the Africans to continue on with life is their religion. Although the greatest population of Africa calls themselves Christian, other religions include Islam, Hinduism, Baha'i, Judaism, Buddhism, as well as other African traditional religions.
Africans look to the church as a rescue from the terrors they deal with in their daily lives. The church is what brings them help in the form of schools and hospitals as well as through helping provide food and clean drinking water. Through the hospitals, many Africans receive prescriptions for common illnesses as well as ones to help with AIDS. The church provides a way of global communication as well as general improvement for the people. Without the church, religious help in general, the Africans would be left to fend for themselves and just live in the place and in the way they have. Individual religions bring hope for something more and something better to the people who suffer in Africa.
Much of the history of religion has been lost or misinterpreted due to the fact that it was recorded by racist Europeans, but we have to look at what was recorded and what there is now in order to understand how it is that the Africans still have a positive outlook on life despite what downfalls they have been dealt.
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