Stolica Apostolska wobec tradycyjnej religii i kultury Afryki

• Authors: Eugeniusz Sakowicz

Title variants

EN

The attitude of the Holy See to the traditional religions and cultures of Africa

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The Holy See is the central office of the Roman-Catholic Church and its scope encompasses all the dimensions of the Church: spiritual, theological, legal, and material. Culture is one of the areas in which the Holy See, headed by its supreme authority, the Pontiff, is particularly involved since culture constitutes the space where individuals and particular communities live. As it fulfils its mission in the modern world, the Church encounters various religions and world-views. For several decades the Church has conducted missionary activity in Africa, where about 30% of the total population are followers of traditional African religions, and the lives of 50% are influenced by them. The lack of Holy Scriptures is the distinguishing trait of these religions as the peoples observing them are illiterate. They show great respect for the elders, who uphold the tradition, and for life. Religion in Africa can be regarded as part of culture, which does not view sacrum and profanum as opposites. In the last decades of the 20th century and at the turn of the 21st century, the Catholic Church adopted the paradigm of dialogue as a means of relating to the religious tradition and the culture of Africa. While pursuing this dialogue, the Church follows the guide- lines of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), including the Nostra aetate Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions. The Holy See has promulgated a number of documents referring to Africa's traditional religions and cultures. John Paul II signed the Ecclesia in Africa Apostolic Exhortation, and Benedict XVI issued the Africae munus Apostolic Exhortation.The Apostolic documents focus on various of African religions and cultures - such as family, community, ancestors, and faith in God - which can become the subject of dialogue. The documents of the Church emphasise the positive traits shared by all African religions in the sphere of religion, rituals, morals, culture and society. The Holy See proclaims documents and engages in practical activities with a view to overcoming divisions in Africa and building the community of reconciliation, the "new" Africa.

Keywords

EN

Africa; Holy See; Traditional religions; Apostolic documents

• Publisher: Instytut Nauk Politycznych, Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
• Journal: Forum Politologiczne
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 13 - "Stare" i "nowe" mocarstwa w Afryce - stygmaty kulturowe, religijne, polityczne, ekonomiczne i społeczne
• Pages: 247-268

Contributors

author

Eugeniusz Sakowicz

• Wydział Nauk Pedagogicznych Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie

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