Christianity and Islam in Ethiopia

Abstract

Orthodox Christianity in Ethiopia has, through the Solomonic myth, played a dominant role in producing a particular religious nationalism, which has been characterized by a strong form of Ethiopian exceptionalism. The intimate relationship between church and state created a significant force that became the basis for a particular expansionism, in turn leading to the production of Muslims as the religious and national “others” and the formation of a clear-cut asymmetric relationship between Christians and Muslims. The introduction of the secular state in the latter part of the twentieth century has reduced the church’s hegemonic position, where Ethiopia also has experienced a more active and visible Muslim community as well as a more rugged religious landscape. A more confident Muslim population, through their particular form of “politics of recognition”, are challenging the ancient Christian-underpinned national narrative. This chapter discusses the nature of this Christian nationalism in Ethiopian history, arguing that the celebrated image of Ethiopia as case of harmonious Christian-Muslim relations needs to be related to the dominant position of Christianity. The chapter subsequently analyzes current discourses around religion and national belonging, and a central argument is that the country’s religious history remains an important key for understanding increasingly tense Christian-Muslim relations and that the lasting legacy of this history complicates the formulation of an inclusive national identity.