The Dynamics Of Religious Pluralism And Tolerance In Federal Ethiopia The South Wollo Experience

This study deals with the dynamics of religious pluralism and tolerance in Ethiopia’s secularismrnconsidering South Wollo as a case.rnThe major objective of the study is to examine the changing character of religious pluralism andrntolerance in federal Ethiopia. The study argued that the adoption of ethnic federalismrnaccompanied by a religio-pluralistic secular venture has brought a new dynamics of religiousrnpluralism and tolerance in Ethiopia in general and in South Wollo in Particular.rnBased on a qualitative approach, the study uncovers the issue of religious pluralism andrntolerance in the current secular venture; the emerging dynamics of religious contestation at thernfederal level manifested in terms of state-religion relations, inter and intra-religious relations;rnlocal models of religious pluralism and tolerance and the advent of reform movements and thernchanging contours of religious tolerance.rnThe study emphasized the need for a holistic approach that helps understand the changes andrncontinues on the nature of religious pluralism and tolerance in the study area. Accordingly, fromrna historical perspective, it discusses the trajectories of religious tolerance in pre-federalrnEthiopia since its modern inception in 1855.rnAlthough the focus of the study is on the changes, it dwells on the local models of religiousrnpluralism and tolerance still existing in the area in order to show the changes that occurredrnunder the religio-pluralistic secular policy of the state. Hence, the study identified CommunalrnInstitutions (Idir and Equb), interfaith marriage and affinity (Amachicha) relationship,rnneighborly relations, the Abbagar institution, cooperation in building worship places andrnpilgrimage to shrines still existing arenas of religious pluralism and tolerance in South Wollo.rnIn contrast, the study identified major areas of change over religious pluralism and tolerance asrnthe decline of interfaith- communal associations, neighborly relation is now becoming morernreligious-based, and cooperation in building worship places is declining.rnIt is the contention of this study that the current venture has shown a mixed result as far asrnreligious tolerance is concerned. On the one hand, with all its pitfalls the Ethiopian secularrnexperience has positive ramifications for ensuring religious liberty by creating equal opportunityrnfor all religious groups in practicing their religion thereby set a stage for religious pluralismrnand religious tolerance. On the other hand, the new religio-pluralistic policy has invited a newrndynamics of both inter and intrareligious intolerance.

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