Jarosław Różański, Kościół katolicki w dialogu z tradycyjnymi religiami afrykańskimi, Pelplin: Bernardinum 2020.
The first meetings with traditional religions of Africa in Nubia or Ethiopia are not very well documented. In European relations of the 16th-18th centuries there is a clear lack of knowledge, and a depreciation, of them. The 19th century and first half of the 20th century were somewhat better. But at this time too — despite the first, broader reports and research — a fragmented and rather negative perspective is to be seen, expressed in the terminology used at that time for describing traditional African religions: “animism,” “fetishism,” “totemism,” “paganism,” “cult of ancestors,” and so on. It is necessary to note here that the first reports — and at the same time the first attempts at valuing African religions and cultures — came from the pens of missionaries. The Second Vatican Council marked a distinct breakthrough in the perception of traditional African religions by the Catholic Church. The series of documents of the Catholic Church that followed clearly appreciated not only the traditional African religions themselves, but also the numerous values they demonstrate. The first part of the present study gives an overview of the long history of Christianity’s encounter with new cultures and religions as well as an outline reflection on the possibility of salvation — in the Christian sense and from the Christian point of view — in these religions. Reaching to the very roots of Christianity within the context of traditional African religions seems justified, because for centuries when speaking of “pagan” or “non-Christian” religions in general, the Church — or the Fathers of the Church —spoke this way of religions, and therefore also of traditional African religions.
The second part of this study points to the huge variety of cultures in Africa, which has an influence also on diversity in the organization of social, political, and religious life, which are most often closely connected to each other. It is emphasized that what undoubtedly connects the cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa is the traditional community structure which permeates all areas of life. It is organically linked to the religious system of the locality. Then — starting from the anthropocentrism characteristic of traditional African religions — are presented various types of religious rites and rituals, which formed one of the basic factors for integrating the community, and permeating its entire life. From the point of view of European researchers, it is possible to discern elements of magic and of religion in these rituals, but in traditional African religions these two realms are often inseparably connected. The succeeding chapters show the rich spiritual world of traditional African religions, beginning with the spirits of these peoples’ closest ancestors, that is to say, the deceased who have reached this status. Then are presented the rich world of other spirits, and also the world of deities and heroes. Spirits are what we call the beings who stand below the deities. These spirits are very numerous, and as a rule are neither good nor bad. Their activity depends to a great extent upon the person.
At the end is presented the concept of a Supreme Being and the forms of His cult. In the third part of the study are presented possibilities and conditions (including difficulties) for dialogue and its specific forms (dialogue of life, collaboration in aiding development, dialogue of social involvement, dialogue of theological exchange, and dialogue of religious experience).
Open access: https://www.academia.edu/49113298/