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African Christian Theology African Christian Theology: A—S-hndy—of“Contrasting Processes of Theological Reflection in Zaire. K. Gordon Molyneux Thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 1988 ProQuest Number: 10672613 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10672613 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ABSTRACT 'African Christian Theology' represents attempts on the part of African Christians to 'own' their theological reflection, rather than borrow it from others. This in turn means taking seriously their African heritage or 'identity'. Chapter 1 of the thesis examines the theological quest in the broader context of political, educational, literary, and religious factors in sub- Saharan Africa, All of these fields display a parallel search for 'personhood', a determination to move from being object to being subject. Considerable attention is paid to the causes and dynamics of religious independency. 'African Theology' has not emerged from the independent churches, but it is sympathetic to their cause and has taken up theologically some of their concerns. The remaining three chapters of the thesis are devoted to the one country of Zai're, and more specifically, to three contrastive 'styles' of theological reflection. It is the argument of the thesis that 'theologizing* is done in a wide range of sectors of society. Chapter 2 examines the most prominent and (to the West) most familiar of these processes of theologizing, - the academic and literary one. Selected to illustrate this process is Kinshasa's Faculty of Catholic Theology. Reflecting the Faculty's historical links with the rigorous academic standards of its mother-university Louvain (Belgium), it has achieved international recognition as one of Black Africa's foremost centres of research and was at the centre of the debate on 'African Theology' in the 1960s. The Faculty's emphasis on publication has contributed significantly to the influence of the institution. Academic research and publication might constitute the most prestigious sector of the theological process, and the most 'exportable' in the international literary world, but it represents only a small part of the total scene of African Christians expressing and communicating their beliefs. Chapter 3 looks to the other end of the spectrum as it explores the area of 'oral theology' illustrated by the 'inspired' hymns of the Kimbanguist Church. The distinct characteristics of orality as opposed to literacy are considered. The oral sphere does not lend itself to neat, logical analysis as does the academic sector, yet it lies closer to the heart of spirituality, and to overlook it is to neglect a major aspect of African Christianity. Finally, Chapter 4- explores an experiment in Protestant contextual theologizing in North-East ZaVre; seminars designed to effect an interaction between the gospel and contextual issues. Involving participants who combined some theological background with close acquaintance with the 'grassroots' scene, these 'Gospel and Culture Seminars' might be placed somewhere between the oral and literary spheres. From this 'broad-spectrum* understanding of the total theological picture, the Conclusion seeks to draw out implications for theology itself, for theological education, and for theological educators in Africa today. - 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface 7 Introduction 9 Chapter 1 African Christian Theology; the quest for self-hood 16 The wider context: 16 The colonial experience 16 Education, literature, 'negritude' 20 Towards independence 23 African solidarity 27 The case of Zaire 29 The religious scene; Independency 31 Typology 32 Causes 33 Distinctives 40 The theological dimension: 44 Early developments 44 Vatican II 49 Writings and writers 52 Sources: 53 1. Culturo-religious heritage 53 2. African Independent Churches 57 3. Nationalism 58 4. Bible 60 Conclusion 64 References 66 - 3 - Chapter 2 Faith seeking (published) understanding: the contri­ bution of the 'Faculty de Th6ologie Cathollque de Kinshasa1. 78 Early history of the Faculty 78 The Debate; the 1960s 81 African Theology and 'authenticltd' 87 The 'Centre d'Etudes des Religions Africaines' and its 'Cahiers' 90 The 'Revue Africaine de Thdologie' 95 Biblical Studies 95 Philosophy and Ethics 98 Sacraments 101 Theses 104- Conferences 106 Conclusion 107 References 110 Appendix I; Publications of FTCK 120 Appendix II: CRA subscriptions analysis 121 Appendix III: RAT subscriptions analysis 122 Chapter 3 The Oral Dimension: the place and function of hymns In the Kimbanguist Church (EJCSK). 123 Introduction 123 The Prophet and his Church 125 Hymns in the EJCSK 130 Nsambu and Fwasi 130 From 'revelation' to 'canonization' 132 Into the life of the Church 136 Selection and interpretation 139 - 4 - 'Patterns of concern'; 144 1. Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Kimbangu 144 2. Ecstasy and Pain 158 3. Hope realised and deferred 164 Conclusion 168 References 170 Appendix I: Two hymns from 1921 187 Appendix II: Tonic sol-fa transposition 188 Appendix III: Proposed hymnbook contents 189 Appendix IV: Analysis of inspired hymns, 1986 190 Appendix V: Type hymns 191 Chapter 4 In search of a theology to live by; 'Gospel and Culture Seminars' - an experiment in contextual theologizing in North-East ZaYre. 197 Background 197 •Loci' of theological reflection in CECA 200 1. Bible Schools 201 2. Pastors' retreats 207 3. 'Women of the Good News' 211 4. Theological Education by Extension 216 Inadequac ies 221 'Gospel and Culture Seminars' 223 The documents: 234 1. The Gospel and African Beliefs 234 2. Fetishism and Healing 238 3. Tribalism 241 - 5 - Participants' appraisal: 245 1. The Seminars 245 2, Gration's role 246 Follow-on 247 1. Replication of the Seminars 247 2. Preaching 250 3. Teaching 253 4. Hymns 256 5. Seminars 257 6. Writing and publishing 260 7. Other 264 Conclusion 266 References 270 Appendix I: Map of Centraland Eastern Africa 297 Appendix II: Distribution and status of AIM personnel 298 Appendix III; Questionnaire for Seminar participants 299 Conclusion 301 Theology in Africa 302 Theological education in Africa 307 Theological educators in Africa 313 References 318 Bibliograph ies 321 Sources 336 - 6 - <o *=«- Errata (African Christian Theology) p.43, para 5, line 10, to read: macro-cosmology (instead of: macro- eosmolgy) p.45, para 1, line 4, to read: consensus (instead of: concensus) p.47, para 3, line 9, to read: 'Christianisme et negritude' (M.Hebga) (instead of: 'Christianisme et negritude' (A.Kagame)) p.56, para 2, line 13, to read: (see above, p.47) p.67, n.21, line 1, to read: II n'est pas question de ressusciter le passe... p.94, para 3, line 8, to read: Mulago's 'Elements fondamentaux (instead of: Malula's 'Elements fondamentaux ...') p.95, para 4, line 12, to read: sacraments (instead of: sacrements) also p.102, para 2, line 6, to read: sacramental. p.96, para 2, line 10, to read: Old Testament (instead of: Old testament) p.98, para 1, line 2, to read: ' ' p.102, para 4, line 1, to read: only celibate priests (instead of: only ordained priests) p.104, para 2, line 3, to read: in CRA (instead of: CRA) p.Ill, n.24, to read: On the 'Semaines', see also below, p.106. p.114, n.59, line 5, to read: (see pp.98ff.) p.119, n.112, no.15, to read: Charisme de la vie consacree (instead of: Charisme et la vie consacree). p.139, para 3, line 6, to read: assistance (instead of assitance) p.165, para 2, line 11, to read: 'locus terrestris' (instead of 'locus terrestri') p.182, n.141, line 3, to read: akiti likolo ... (instead of: akiti lokolo) p.251, section iii. Fetishism, para a), line 2, to read: iia (above) ... (instead of: iii (above) ...) p.285, n.187, line 2, to read: see Ch.3 above, p.156. p.311, para 3, line 15, to read: a place where any African sense ... (instead of: a place where any African ense ...) PREFACE It would be impossible to name all those in Africa and in England who have helped to bring to fruition this piece of research. The following paragraphs name but some whose contribution has been particularly appreciated. Responsibility for any shortcomings in the thesis, however, is mine alone. First, I would like to acknowledge the encouragement and guidance of my supervisor at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Professor Richard Gray; his combination of personal friendliness and academic rigour has helped to make this period of research both enjoyable and rewarding. I have been indebted to several for their willingness (despite very full time-tables) to read and comment on early drafts of various chapters; among such I particularly thank Dr, John Mbiti, Bishop Kalilombe, Dr. Paul Bowers, Dr. W.J.Hollenweger, and Dr. Humphrey Fisher. Others have put their time and their resouces at my disposal in other ways: Dr. Harold Turner facilitated my use of the rich collection of articles in the Study Centre for New Religious Movements, in Birmingham; Fr, Francois Bontinck in Kinshasa allowed me unhurried use of his personal library which must be one of the richest resource centres of historical material in Zaire, if not in Africa; Dr. Marie- Louise Martin arranged a profitable and informative visit to the Kimbanguist Theology Faculty in Kinshasa; Pastor Heintze-Flad in Switzerland generously provided material on Kimbanguist hymns.
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