Use the "back" button of your browser to return to the list of abstracts.
TRENDS OF CHANGE IN RELIGIOUS IDENTITY AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR TOLERANCE AND CO-EXISTENCE IN NORTH EASTERN ETHIOPIA: CASE STUDY OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM [Abstract ID: 0705-05]
North Eastern Ethiopia is an ideal study area for topics related to intra-religion and inter-religious ties; mainly for studies which focus on Orthodox Christianity and Islam. This section of the Ethiopia state is historic site where both religious coexisted since the early days of their emergence. The geographic region is also known for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Conflicts in these areas are mainly related to resources sharing and inter-community border disputes. Since recent times, however, if not specific to this area, there are new trends of change on religious identities. The kinds of trends of changes in religious identities of both religions are highly linked to history and new global dynamics than living realities.
Historically, until 1974 Ethiopia was a feudal state where the monarch and the church were joint partners of the system. Since 4th century AD until the demise of the last monarch in 1974, Ethiopia was rhetorically considered as an Orthodox Christian State. The monarch and the church had worked to marginalize Islam and other religions. The military regime the come to power after the last monarch, due to its socialist ideology and dictatorial nature, was indifferently despotic to on all religions.
The current Ethiopian constitution granted equal right and freedom to all religions. But the constitutional freedom and equality of religions have opened new competitions for dominance assertive revivalist sentiments. Since 1991 historical and global factors began fuel revivalism and antagonism in inter-religious ties. The most important changes in inter religious ties are more observable in the two largest religions - Islam and Orthodox Christianity. And such changes are manifested in religions identities which are core elements of the revivalist tendencies in both religions.
Thus, the author will present his investigation and observation on the causes, magnitude, trends and implications of religious identity changes on tolerance and coexistence between Orthodox Christianity and Islam in North Eastern Ethiopia.