Faith
Africa’s True Size: Faith, Maps, and Dignity
Faith Facts
- The African Union is urging schools to retire the Mercator projection, favoring maps that show Africa’s real size.
- The Mercator map exaggerates the size of Europe and North America while shrinking Africa, impacting generational perceptions.
- Africa has a deep Christian heritage and is central to the future of global Christianity.
How we see the world can depend on a classroom’s map, forming our ideas about nations and their value.
The African Union seeks honest maps as part of upholding dignity and truth, values rooted in Scripture.
“We can be truly free, ultimately, only together. We can be human only together.”
For believers, accurate representation honors the imago Dei in all people, encouraging us to love our neighbors and pursue justice.
North Africa gave the Church early giants like Tertullian and Augustine, reminding Christians of Africa’s profound spiritual legacy.
The gospel has deep roots on the continent, and today’s believers are called to use their God-given resources for global blessing.
While a just map is vital, true transformation comes from both external and internal change—strengthening institutions against corruption and aligning public life with biblical principles.
Presenting Africa truthfully—on maps and in hearts—can inspire courage, unity, and service in God’s world.