Analysis of family and Religious Studies topics

FRS Digest stated that even if spirits are not visible, they dwell in visible geographical areas, this has been further supported by J Mbiti (1965) who believe that the majority of the people in indigenous religion hold that spirits dwell in woods, bushes, forests, rivers, mountains or graveyards.

There are different types of spirits in Indigenous religion, it includes:

(a) The Avenging Spirits — these are the spirits of the deceased individuals who were wronged, neglected or murdered.

(b) Ancestral Spirits — these are the spirits of dead grandparents and dead parents.

(c) The Alien Spirits — these are the spirits of those who died far away from their homes.

(d) The Spirit of Witchcraft — it is a broad term for the belief and practice of magic.

The above spirits play a vital role in indigenous religion, for instance the avenging spirit promotes the concept of ubuntu/unhu and it maintains unity. There are some incidents which have been recorded by media showing the existence of spirits, especially the spirit of witchcraft. It has been recorded to be existing in most parts of the country .

This coming week, I will explain the positive and negative attributes of different types of spirits. QUESTION TO DISCUSS “Human blood is sacred, must not be spilled”. Discuss. COMMENT OVERVIEW The above question requires one to address the effects of spilling the human blood. One should note that the avenging spirit revenges. The avenging spirits refers to the spirit of the deceased. When one dies especially as a result of being murdered, it is a belief in indigenous religion that the spirit punishes the murderer and the relatives. Chirongoma Admire, a Mash West-based teacher at Kutama Day High School commented during the authorship of this article, he submitted that “I vehemently concur with the notion that human blood must not be spilled, especially by malice taking into cognisance the existence of Ngozi spirits in Indigenous Religion “dzinza rose rinopera kuti tsvai,” its like direct contact pamagetsi, the entire clan would feel the heat if no mitigatory measures are employed, that is why we shun death penalties or sentences here in Zimbabwe, rufu nderwaMwari, hakuna ane right to spill one’s blood, huku nemunhu hazvifanane, the dichotomy must not be undermined”. All this indicates that human blood is sacred and must not be spilled.

Witness Dingani is a Zimbabwe-based author, motivational speaker, columnist, youth coach, publisher, radio host, cricketer, member of Chain Support Foundation Counselling Company. He is the founder of charity organisation “Dingani Charity Organisation”. In 2016 he was voted as the most influential youthful figures in Zimbabwe on the 8th position out of 15 people by the PanZimbabwe Society. A-level Divinity Questions by schools can be submitted through his mobile number +263777896159 or email address : witnessdingani@gmail.com.

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