Aladura Church
| Aladura | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Pentecostal |
| Founder | J.B. Sadare |
| Origin | 1918 Ijebu Ode, Nigeria |
Aladura is a classification of churches that abide by a Christian religious denomination or trend inspired by activities of progressive church elements, J.B Sadare, D.O. Odubanjo, I.O Sanya and others in 1918. There are over 3 million adherents worldwide.
"Aladura" means "praying people" in Yoruba.
Aladura churches emphasize the power in praying and believe in faith healing and various elements associated with Pentecostalism. Most of the founders of the churches were associated with Anglicanism, though some Methodists joined the movement as well. The churches despise the power of traditional African religion, because they deem that power to be basically malign. Therefore, they sometimes burn cult images as "idols" and oppose both polygamy and witchcraft. Unlike Kimbanguism, the churches tend to avoid politics and focus instead on the "holiness movement".
The Aladura movement started at Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria in 1918. This movement later metamorphosed to Faith Tabernacle and finally to Christ Apostolic Church. Today, many churches in Western Nigeria can be correctly called "Aladura".
They can be categorized into Pentecostals and Spiritualists. The popular Aladura indigenous churches are:
Christ Apostolic Church, popularly called CAC, is the precursor of Aladura Pentecostalism.
The Aladura Spiritualists are also called "White Garment" churches.
The first Aladura movement emerged from St. Saviour's Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria in 1918 after the Sexton, Ali, related a dream to four elders of the church, J.B. Sadare, E.O. Onabanjo, D.C. Oduga, and E.O.W. Olukoya. They started vigorous prayer sessions. In consequence, they initiated the "Prayer Band", popularly called "Egbe Aladura". After D.O. Odubanjo joined the movement in 1919, they became influenced by the doctrines of the Faith Tabernacle of Philadelphia. They rejected infant baptism and all forms of medicine, whether western or traditional. This led to a conflict of doctrines with the Anglican Church, and, as such, they were forced out of the church. Joseph Sadare was compelled to give up his post in the Synod and others were forced to resign their jobs and to withdraw their children from the Anglican School. The Aladura movement began as a renewal movement in search of true spirituality.
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