Afrykańskie wartości duchowe i religijne

Abstract

The Vatican Council II in its declaration Nostra aetate and several other documents expressed a distinctly positive attitude of the Church towards non-Christian religions. Three post-Council documents devetod to a dialogue with the traditional African religions point out and express respect for the spiritual and religious values of the African people. Out of necessity, the following ones were chosen and discussed in brief: a spiritual vision of life and cosmos, a notion of the Supreme Being, ancestor spirits, life after death, morality, sanctity of life and community life. These values, like each culture, require supplementing and complementing in the light of the Gospel and the Church’s teaching. They find their deepest justification in traditional African religions which determine the identity of particular peoples and perform a tremendously important role in their life. A religious attitude of the Africans is dominant in the light of notions, life experiences and attitudes. Contrary to the views of some cultural and social anthropologists, religion can not be regarded exclusively as a social fact which fulfils a definite function in the culture. Such understanding of religion ruins its autonomy and does not fully appreciate its value and importance in the lives of the Africans. As a „soul” or heart of culture, religion integrates all its aspects and gives it an ultimate meaning. A characteristic feature of the African communities is that the economic, social and political life is permeated with religious elements and that all more important events and aspects of the communal and individual life are ritualised. A study of traditional African religions and a dialogue with their believers are necessary in order to understand and appreciate the spiritual and religious values and to preach the Good News to the Africans in a better way as well as to inculturate latter in Africa.