Editing Dinka religion (section)

== Animism ==
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The Dinka are also [[Animism|animists]]. They have a Pastoral lifestyle.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} The Dinka inherit a totem from both their parents. The faithful are expected to make [[Sacrifice|offerings]] to their totem force and maintain positive relations with members. Eating or hurting your totem animal is a bad omen for those who share a totem. Some totems are believed to endow powers. The owl totem, for example, is believed to give the power of providence. Totems are not exclusively animals, although most are; some Dinka having as their totem a metallic ore or element.

In the Dinka language, a totem is known as a ''kuar''. Dinka do not worship their totems but rather speak of being "related" to them.

=== Snakes ===
Some Dinka people respect [[African puff adder]]s. The most commonly respected snakes are Atemyath, Biar keroor, and Maluang. These snakes are given offerings of locally-made melted cheese to appease them, after which they are released into the forest. Killing snakes is believed to be a bad omen for the community or the individual, with the assumption that spirits may strike the killer.

{{Portal|Traditional African religion|Africa|Religion}}