The Religious Shift in Post-Apartheid South Africa

This article examines the religious shift or profound religious transformations in South Africa from 1996 (first census after the demise of apartheid) to 2022 (most recent census) from rigid apartheid to a dynamic and pluralistic religious landscape. Among major transformations are a decline of mainline churches (Anglican and Methodist) and a rapid rise of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Not least, the African Independent Churches (AICs), which blend Christian doctrines with traditional African beliefs, are getting the upper hand. Moving above and beyond quantitative census data, the paper explores the deeper drivers of these changes, with focus on socio-economic trends in post-apartheid South Africa. This holistic approach reveals how religious transformations impact broader societal development. The analysis distinguishes between a “top-down” religious turn (reflecting state-led pluralism and secularization) and a “bottom-up” turn (less visible but exerting long-term societal influence through the values promoted by dominant churches).

church transformation, religious shift, churches in South Africa, the role of church in post-apartheid South Africa