AFRICA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

(SPS)

9 CHALLENGES OF THE CASE STUDIES LEARNED IN AFRICA AND WORLD
CIVILIZATIONS

AN ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED AS A REQUIREMENT IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE COURSE
AFRICA AND WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
GS134
SUBMITTED BY: KANJI ADEN- S11080
SUBMITTED TO: PROFESSOR MARK SHAW
July 9, 2013



Religion and state
Religion and state are key drivers of our society. The two organizations play alternating tasks in
the society. However, there are two areas where they play there parts uniquely. The state is
deeply interested in the social welfare and governance of the society, while religion is concerned
with social and spiritual matters. In recent times, the two have been seen as rivals in some parts
of the world and as one thing in other parts of the world. The challenge of religion faces us today
head on especially when we are to decide where do the two merge or diverge. Is religion ahead
of state or state is ahead of it? We have nations, which are primarily governed by articles of
religion and others, which are primarily governed by democracy. Religion always has a supreme
being, which guides in final decision-making; while a democratic state will always look upon
what is the view of the majority saying.
In early civilizations, religion and state were viewed as one there was no distinction. In Sumeria
the king or ruler was linked with a god. In Egypt, also we find that the pharaoh was also
connected to the Supreme Being. Mohamed the Islam prophet and initiator was a states man and
a religious leader. Having religion and state together at this time in history had many benefits. It
was a source of unity to the people; state could look at issues of morals accordingly in the
society. The state could lead the society in both economic development and spiritual
development.
Islam is still surviving as a religion and also as a governance tool. Although it has worked in
some parts like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran, it has suffered so many challenges. Radicalism in
Islam has painted a negative image about Islam. Radical Islam is used as a tool to impose Islam
and sharia law to unwilling people by use of force. In the past Islam has been seen as a great
three of unity and success but in this current world, communication and interactions are without
borders and many cultures are mingling this thread is being threated, because they are no longer
isolated but part of the universal community. Another great success of merging religion and state
that is recorded in history is the crusades, which repelled Islam from spreading into interior
Europe.
Theocracy would be my decision in this challenge, because God is the only one who can lead his
people in the ways he wants them to go. In new Eden, we are to do it with God and for God.
State cannot run minus God in it. Human beings can never represent God because God is
transcendent and all-knowing g.
Health and healing
Africa is generally termed as lost continent, also an actor in a movie commented that God has
already left Africa (Bruce wills, tears on the sun). Health and healing is one of the most visible
challenges in Africa that can be experienced from one corner of the continent to the other. Africa
is faced with hunger, malnutrition and poor medical services among others every year. Since
Africa does not have enough to eat then that means African population is under populated
because of diseases and poor health practices. Another obstacle for achieving health and healing
in Africa is the issue of traditional beliefs in health and healing. This beliefs have derailed some
of the efforts being made to achieve complete health in Africa. People in Africa still have strong
beliefs in which craft and traditional medicine men and prophets.
In African context of health and healing, everything that happens to someone either good or bad
has a spiritual meaning. Health is one issue that has been highly spiritualized, that take a bigger
share in this belief because it is due to the decline of health where one dies. That clearly means
there are so many spiritual meanings attached to health and healing. When missionaries arrived
with modern medicine, Africans still attached some other traditional rituals to guarantee healing.
HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa became pandemic because people sat with the sick at home
or isolating them because they thought they were bewitched. Due to this beliefs, infectious and
pandemic diseases have flourished in Africa.
In this challenge, I would advocate for the government and private investors in medical services
to attend to issues of health and healing. This is because health is key in having a strong nation
and standard way of attending to various health challenges. Traditional treatments should be
given little or no room at all. Let the traditional medicine men and women prove that there
medicine works well and has proper dosage. If health is left to be, a free reign business most
citizens may lose their money to quarks and more so even lose their lives and lives of their
beloved ones. We are living in dangerous times, which need serious precautions especially in
issues of health.
Development environment and governance
Development comes about due to governance, the environment is where the resource is, and the
immediate impact of development is felt in it. In Africa, we talk about developing day in day out.
A good example is Kenyas vision 2030 where we are aiming to be a middle-sized economy,
with industries, which can produce most of the goods that we need to consume internally instead
of importing. It is not only Kenya but also many other nations which are working toward this or
even greater visions. The challenge development environment and governance is critical because
of the assurance the new Eden needs for future survival of the coming generation. It is about how
we can sustain development and conserve environment.
Through development we have seen countries like japan rise to power and china now. Meiji
restoration brought about the rapid industrialization in Japan. China on the other hand adopted
some aspects of capitalism so that she can effectively compete in the global market. However,
the environments of the two countries have been greatly affected by their activities of
development. Example are the fukushima nuclear leakage and the pollution of air in Beijing
china. Their respective government placed development at the cost of the environment. In Africa
it is a learning point for us to learn and know how to handle our development ambitions and also
protect our environment from a balanced point. Africa has produced one of the legends who have
championed for the conservation of the environment, the late Wangari Maathai. Her efforts were
globally recognized and she was awarded the prestigious Nobel peace prize.
Our governments should clearly define polices which guide in development and especially when
it comes to development with application of technology. Some waste product which emerge from
development activities are not only harmful to the environment but also to human health.
In this challenge I would give a different opinion from my views above. I would go with the
opinion of dirty and little environmental care. My decisions is informed with the fact that all
developed countries considered development first before environment and governance looked at
how development can be propelled faster and improve lives and increase wealth of a nation.
Conservation of the environment can follow later. However there is no day globally warming
will decrease. Global warming will continue and may be the earth may come to an end as
predicted by French scientists in the next 2 billion years coming.


Economic and social justice
Economic and social justice are profound terms that are always in the lips of politicians. It is
what the society looks for every day. This challenge is important because it defines the level of
satisfaction in a society. it reveals how effective the government of the day is in meeting the
immediate needs of a society.
In Latin America we meet with people who championed for equity and social justice. Simon
bolivar set an example by setting all his slaves free and urging his followers to do the same. De
Las casas also gave his slaves freedom and paid them and whet ahead to secure their freedom
form the masters of the colony. Economic and social justice drives the economy to growth and
the general wellbeing of the society.
My opinion on the challenge in that economic and social justice should be balanced among all
the parties involved and it should be more of universal. All races, creeds and cultures where
people originate from they should be treated with the same standards of economic and social
justice. Preference will not bring solution it will bring more separation and divisions in our
society. a good lesson can be learned from De Las casas of Cuba he focused on setting the red
Indians free and bring in the Africans, only later for him to think they were also humans who
deserved equal treatment like any other people.
Also in the eyes of God we are equal and in the new Eden as well we are all equal and one. For
us to work harmoniously with love, we have to treat each other as people of the same family. The
new Eden.

Freedom and authority
In our current world freedoms are enslaving us instead of setting us free. We have become
captives or slaves consciously. Freedom and authority is one pressing challenge that is portraying
our world as confused. As long as there is a struggle between state and religion then freedom and
authority is a bigger issue. Our world is slowly diving into what we call absolute freedom which
equals no freedom. We want to free ourselves from religion and morals. We no longer want
spiritual guidance.
However historically our world has always been divide on freedom and authority. Ideas of
communism and capitalism have always been in a constant war both physical and cold war.
Freedom in history has always been tagged with a price, examples are French revolution, world
war 1 and 2. Blood has been shade for freedom . Authority has always established itself within a
freedom that takes the day.
I am not against any ideology of freedom because both ideologies have benefits and flaws.
However we have an ideology that has carried the day. Capitalism is a very strong force in our
society today, it runs on the wheels of democracy, which puts more emphasis on public affairs
and isolate personal matters like morals to individuals themselves. Our society has become very
much individualistic and selfish. Freedom is viewed as always transacting with the other party
cordially and not actually relating. We have witnessed people recently demanding for rights
which are being enjoyed by heterosexual married couples to be extended to homosexuals. This
informs me that one day it will be as always said, each man for himself and God for us all.
Pressure groups have come in our world today not to make a positive contribution but to
challenge the authority of religion and especially Christianity. Pressure groups have succeeded in
some parts of the world to eliminate religious studies in the curriculum of education system as
well as ban public prayers in public functions. This are people who are advocating pluralism in
our society which to me I think has no focus. However, since it is a democratic world democracy
gives them space to air their grievances and some always find their way to our laws. And more
are on the way coming.
My opinion is that for us to have sustainable freedom . that freedom must have a source that is
also sustainable. God is the only source of freedom that is sustainable because he is freedom and
he gives true freedom. In new Eden we require freedom that will always be there and cannot
contradict itself or compromise itself. Thus the reason for God to be in-charge at all times.
Ethnicity caste and tribalism
We all come somewhere; one must have a tribe an ethnic group and may be a caste. We are all
built to belong somewhere. However the challenge of ethnicity caste and tribalism is that are we
positively impacting our lives and lives of others by appreciating our diverse origins and cultures
or using our multiculturalism as a tool for defense and oppression of others? In our modern
world we can no longer conclusively allocate a particular group a geographical region as their
own because connectivity has been enhanced and business is flourishing everywhere and people
are mingling all over.
Ethnicity caste and tribalism have contributed to fierce battles and even enmity between people
historically and even now. This confrontations have been most of the times caused by the
scramble for the scarce resources available and competition. In history we meet the likes of
Hitler who tried to wipe out an entire race, not forgetting our very own Rwanda who also pluged
into a genocide because of the same ideology of ethnicity. The two nations aimed at ethnic
cleansing . Braudel comments in his book history of civilizations about the three major races in
Latin America no single race and wipeout the other. People have lost lives in in this social and
cultural divisions. However it is not wrong to belong somewhere, what we need to do is to
accommodate each other as Christ has accommodated us. Ethnic groups confront each other
because they are not the same and they differ in various issues.
Caste system as it is very much visible in India, it has negatively contributed to the oppression of
the lower class people. Castes in India have permanently segment the society to various
economic levels and achievements. A Caste declares your position in the society and also
dictates your achievement in the society.
The Dalit or untouchables in India have been discriminated to the extent that sometimes back the
law also discriminated them. They were denied education and all other basic needs. This has led
to rising number of poor households in India Caste system lowers the dignity of human beings
and makes them appear like dogs or wild beasts.
In my opinion on this challenge I would advocate for multiculturalism and diversity. I am
informed by the fact the Christ commissioned us to reach all corners of the world and bring
people of all kind under his love and care. We can never be the same . however the love of Christ
transforms us to be the same and equal and put us in a position to appreciate each other in the
new Eden.
Beauty and utility
When God created the earth he uttered the words that it was good. When he created man he also
said they were good and in his own likeness. The challenge of beauty and utility faces us today
because, we might have lost the meaning of beauty and utility. Beauty and utility has been
associated with worldly things and condemned by us Christian. we have looked at beauty with
the eye of pervasion and nothing good is in it.
Russian orthodox has preserved the practice icons veneration in their churches because they
believe that beauty will save the world. Beauty has been seen by the orthodox church as a tool
for evangelism and also education. They have viewed beauty as a way of bringing unity between
the spiritual and material world. The incarnation of Christ is also depicted in this drawings.
Aspects of beauty like music and art are very strong tools of mobilizing people to enforce
change or influence them. Music for example in African culture plays a big role. We have songs
and dance almost in every ceremony. We express our joy, anger, dissatisfaction and wrath
through music or songs and dance. When warriors go to war they sing songs which give them
courage to meet the enemy.
African art has had its own place in the world of art because of its uniqueness. The wood
carvings, soap stone carvings, fashioning of skin ware and domestic items is a great work of art.
From this few examples from Africa we can learn that beauty is not only in Europe and Russia as
cradle ,but it is universal. Beauty and utility is an essential part of being human being because it
reminds us the goodness of God In our lives and all his doings in our universe.
In this challenge I would advocate for the government giving funding to music and art activities
because, it is through beauty and utility that we preserve our history and culture. If it was not for
drawings and artifacts found in Egypt and Mesopotamia may be we wont have understood those
civilizations as we do today. If not for the tools found in Olduvai gorge then we there were no
people before. Art reminds us of where we are coming from and where we are going. I would
insist that for the new Eden to preserve its history and culture then art must be funded by the
government (council of nine) .
Time and purpose
All we have discussed as challenges facing the new Eden are challenges that are within time and
have a purpose. They challenges have a time limit and ultimate result if either observed
positively or negatively. In our world today everything that we do relies heavily on time and the
result. As the bible clearly puts it that we are all given equal time and chance. Importance of time
and purpose is not something to be assumed or looked down upon because it defines our
precision and goals in life.
The Jewish civilization is one of the cultures that have demonstrated to us the power of time and
purpose. As the chosen race, the Jews are sure of the salvation that is to come and so they have
all their focus on that. Nothing has swayed them from either left or right. They strongly believe
that God is on their side and will always be there. Despite the persecutions they have gone
through history they have been able to stand up and dust themselves and move on.
I would embrace the Jewish model of time as positive up and down route that will finally get us
up and up eternally. As citizens of the new Eden we should always look up to God for hope and
providence. Jews have always depended on God for provision and future hope. Which we
Christians have also borrowed from them and followed that .