Nazareth Baptist Church
Nazareth Baptist Church (Alternatively called "The Nazarite Church" "iBandla lamaNazaretha") is an African Initiated Church founded by Isaiah Shembe 1910.[1]
It has approximately 7 million members.[2] The religion bans smoking, drinking, adultery and fornicating.[3] UbuNazaretha is pure and independent religion which originates in Africa. It reveres Shembe as an African Messiah and emphasizes the Ten Commandments.
It was divided into two groups after the 1976 death of Bishop Johannes Galilee Shembe. The larger group was led by Bishop Amos Shembe until his death in 1995, while the Rt. Rev. Londa Shembe led the smaller group of about 1000 members.[4]
As of 2009 it was divided into four factions – three in KwaZulu-Natal and one in Gauteng.[5]
The religion uses endangered leopard skins as part of their ceremonies, which some activists are trying to stop or replace with synthetic leopard skin.[6]
Pilgrimages
The Shembe begin each year with a Holy pilgrimage to iNhlangakazi or Khenana Mountain, on the first Sunday of the New Year. It is said that Isaiah Shembe was drawn to the area where the Holy Spirit told him to start the Church.[7]
They also hold a month-long celebration in Judea near Eshowe every year in October, where members gather to receive the blessings of Shembe.[7]
World Cup legal challenge
In early 2010 the Nazareth Baptist Church claimed that the vuvuzela horn, used by fans attending football matches in South Africa, actually belongs to their church. They threatened to pursue legal action to stop supporters from playing the vuvuzela at the South African World Cup.[8] However, no legal proceedings were initiated.
References
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- ↑ Shembe snarl at mock leopard skin
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