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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The zion christian church and the apartheid regime
Author:Schoffeleers, J.M.ISNI
Year:1988
Periodical:Leidschrift: historisch tijdschrift
Volume:4
Issue:3
Pages:42-57
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:African Independent Churches
Church and State
apartheid
Abstract:This article interprets the remarkable role played by the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in South African politics. More particularly, it explains the church's grandiose Easter celebration of 1985 at Zion City, Moria, where State President P.W. Botha addressed a crowd of over two million black South Africans. The author argues that an explanation of the church's conservative character can be found in the fact that the ZCC puts so much emphasis on ritual healing, and that the Zion churches represent a version of black apartheid, stimulated by the system of white apartheid. Because of its large membership the ZCC is an interesting partner for the South African government. This large membership is due, inter alia, to its pan-ethnic character, its position on the labour market and its freedom from secessions. The explosive expansion in the past quarter of this century can be attributed to the mounting spiral of violence in the black townships: the Church's message of non-violence attracts that section of the public which wants to stem the tide of violence. Note, ref.
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