@article{igboin_christianity_2018, title = {Christianity and the Secularization of Africa}, volume = {5}, url = {https://journal.etsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Benson-demonisation-revised-May-31-final.pdf}, abstract = {Christian missionaries to Africa in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, believing that traditional African religions were demonic, sought to de-spiritualize the African space of its spiritual resources and re-sacralize it through Christian spirituality. According to scholars of secularization in Africa, including Herman Paul, Abel Ngarsouledé, Dick Seed, and Benno van den Toren, the unintended consequence of the missionaries‘ approach was the gradual secularization of African communities. Today, ironically, the process of secularization even extends to Christianity itself, which seems to be reaping a secular harvest from the very seeds missionaries sowed. This paper will briefly discuss secularization theory, review the arguments of Toren, Paul, Ngarsouledé, and Seed on secularization in Africa, and conclude with an analysis of the implications of secularization in Africa.}, pages = {1--13}, journaltitle = {Cairo Journal of Theology}, author = {Igboin, Benson Ohihon}, date = {2018}, note = {Free}, }