REL 675: Experience Tanzania: Religion, Society and Culture
January 21, 2020
We went to the National Museum which was a botanical garden at one point. I really enjoyed the human evolution wing which showed bones of various animals. They also had a colonialist section, art section, and sea life section.
We visited a Lutheran Church and talked with one of the pastors. Like the other churches we visited, this one also focused on interfaith.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral was beautiful with its colour scheme of gray, yellow, and cream. It’s the oldest Cathedral here and is also one of the biggest (in physical size, not in direct congregants). Outside, there were buildings much like our small chapels but these were dedicated to Mary and Joseph. Catholics in the Global South tend to put more value and emphasis on praying to Mary.
Finally, we went to the Village Museum where we saw traditional houses of tribes all around Tanzania (and the bordering countries).
We also saw a couple of dances from one of the tribes (they rotate tribes).
About the Tanzania Study Tour
THE TRAVEL DATES
Jan. 11-27, 2020
THE INSTRUCTORS
Religion Prof. Andrea Ng’weshemi
AN INTRO
This trip is set to accomplish many goals. There will be discussions from several speakers such as Tanzanian professors, religious leaders, and the local folk, along with plenty of opportunity to explore the diverse cultural and physical aspects of Tanzania by visiting contemporary sites and national parks. The learning focus will touch on topics such as religious tolerance and inter-faith cooperation.
