La Foi: Metanoia, Passion pour Dieu et Redécouverte des Valeurs Religieuses Africaines. Quelques Réflexions à partir de Africae Munus

Abstract

This essay is a reflection based on the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus of Pope Benedict XVI. The author brings up some sketches in a dogmatic theological and anthropological perspective and tries to develop some theological models rooted in the Scriptures, the Christian tradition and the African religious and socio-cultural heritage. In the first part of his reflection, he focuses on faith. He primarily analyses its Theological, Christological, Pneumatolocial and Mystical aspects of Faith as it appears in the Exhortation. Then, he explores how this faith constitutes a call for conversion towards Justice, Peace, Reconciliation, and also as passion for God, radical choice for God. In the second part, he moves to a reflection on the reality of faith in the context of Africa. He criticizes the use of the word “animists” in Africae Munus, to designate those who practice African religions. From there, he manages to show how this word is charged with prejudices. He then establishes a parallel between the Ancestors, founders of African religions, and the Patriarchs of the Jewish Bible, calling by this mean for respect, reverence and veneration.