by Michael Moss
First published 2017
Michael Moss examines the connections between Western religious traditions and their origins in ancient African spiritual practices. He argues that the fundamental components of Christianity and other Western faiths derive from earlier African belief systems. Moss contends that African people must reclaim and honor their own cultural traditions to achieve mental and spiritual liberation. He advocates for the practice of Sankofa, the principle of looking back to retrieve valuable elements from the past. The author challenges readers to abandon European depictions of religious figures like Jesus and Horus, asserting that the racial representation of deities significantly impacts African psychological and spiritual wellbeing. Moss presents a case for cultural deification as a path to freedom, urging African communities to embrace their ancestral wisdom rather than adopted religious imagery that may undermine their sense of identity and worth.
Genres: african-american, african-literature, religion, spirituality, cultural-studies
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-liberation, reclaiming-identity
Setting: Africa, West
Period: Ancient, Contemporary
204 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform