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--212074296Kangayi (talk) 10:42, 5 October 2012 (UTC) =Importance of religion in Namibia= The Importance of Religion in Namibia reveals the significance of religion in modern times, showing how it provides Namibians with meaning to their lives and helps guide them in their everyday moral choices. Religion is not only a necessary but a very significant part of Namibians lives. Most Namibians would find it very difficult to live without religion or spirituality. A lot of time, money and contemplation have been spent on religion. Religion acts as a light to guide people through the tunnels of life and bring them to light at the other end. Religion is important to not only guide people through life but necessary for people to reflect on the meaning of life and what they really want out of life.

=History= In the early 1970's, the Namibian churches entered into a loose alliance, the Christian Centre, which had a dual role: to speak with a united voice against injustice on behalf of the voiceless; and to initiate relief projects for the poor. This initiative was later revamped and its scope broadened and, as a result, the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) was formed in 1978. CCN provided further opportunities for the various church denominations to come together to share their experience and make joint statements on matters of common interest. The CCN is an ecumenical body whose concerns extend from religious to social and educational matters. It was originally made up of the following churches:African Methodist Episcopal Church(AME); Anglican Diocese of Namibia; Evangelical Lutheran Church in SWA/Namibia (ELC); Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN); Methodist Church; and Roman Catholic Church (RCC).

=Different religions in Namibia=

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)
Is a Lutheran denomination based in Namibia. It has a total membership of over 703,893,[1] mainly in Northern Namibia. Formerly known as the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church, it played a significant role in opposition to Apartheid in Namibia and was part of the Namibian independence struggle.

African Methodist Episcopal Church
Usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African-American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the mid-Atlantic area that wanted independence from white Methodists. Allen was elected and consecrated its first bishop in 1816.

Anglican Diocese of Namibia (CPSA)
The Anglican Diocese of Namibia is part of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, which is itself part of the Anglican Communion. The diocese, which covers the whole country of Namibia, was originally known as the Diocese of Damaraland. Most of the Anglicans in Namibia live in Ovamboland in the north of the country and speak the Kwanyama language.

Dutch Reformed Church in Namibia
On the 6th of April, 1652, Jan van Riebeek founded a refreshment station for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape. Together with Van Riebeeck the (Dutch) Reformed Church also came to South Africa. In subsequent decades the European population increased, first with the coming of the Huguenots and later, in 1820, with the arrival of the British Settlers. The number of congregations grew gradually as the members moved inland. When the first synod was convened on the 2nd of November 1824, there were already 14 congregations of the church.

Protestant Unity Church (Oruuano)
Alfeus Kanambunga Active 1952 to 1990 Protestant Unity Church (Ethiopian independent) Namibia Prophet Alfeus Kanambunga was a founding leader of the Oruuano Church, with Pastor Reinhard Ruzo. He was originally from Kalkfeld (Omaruru district), where he attended the catechism class and was baptized by a Herero pastor of the Rhenish Mission Church, Pastor Tjirutue.

Rhenish Church in Namibia
The Rhenish Mission Church is not only the oldest building in Okahandja, but in Namibia. It was consecrated in 1876 and the cemetery has its own place in the Namibian history. Missionaries, German soldiers and Herero people alike have been laid to rest here. The Rev. Heinrich Schmelen of the London Missionary Society is believed to be the first European to visit Okahandja on one of his trips to the north of the country. He called it 'Schmelens Hope'. The Rhenish Mission Church had plans to start a missionary station in Herero land from 1840, but was dropped due to a drought and subsequent lack of drinking water, not to mention the thirsty Herero had up-sticks and moved on. Towards the end of this decade, the mission were also forced to cancel any hopes of conversion to their faith, when Jonker Afrikaner and his men went on the rampage

Roman Catholic Church
(RCchurch.na) is the Official Website for the Roman Catholic Church in Namibia. It provides information, via links, on all of the dioceses, parishes, schools, and hospitals in the country of Namibia.

United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (Namibia Synod)
Although the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa was only formed in 1967, it traces its origins back almost 200 years, to the arrival of the first personnel sent to the sub-continent by the London Missionary Society. Today, it reckons over 300 000 people in its membership, grouped in over three hundred and fifty local churches in five countries.

=Influence of religion in Namibia= Namibia religion greatly influences the Namibia culture and they are the very part of it. Various followers of the religions in Namibia are there and they all exist together in harmony. Christianity is the predominant religion to be practiced in Namibia and almost 80 - 90 percent of the population follows Christianity. Two Lutheran churches of Namibia encompass almost half of the Namibia population. The followers of various sects of Christianity in Namibia consist of Roman Catholics (one- fifth of the population), Dutch Reformed (5 percent) and Anglican (5 percent). Smaller Namibia religion groups are the followers of Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal churches. Namibia religion is broadly categorized into two sub categories and they are namely Christianity and Islam.

=References= Religion country lists


 * http://www.dacb.org/stories/namibia/kanambunga_alfeus.html
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Namibia
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Namibia
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Importance_of_religion_by_country

=See also=
 * Islam in Namibia
 * Roman Catholicism in Namibia

=Lists=


 * List of churches in Namibia
 * DEFAULTSORT:Importance Of Religion By Country

=External links=


 * The Big Religion Chart detailed facts on major religions