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Genesis of a New Religion
Kimbanguism and its Departure from Ecumenism
Series: - Theology and Mission in World Christianity, Volume: 35
Author:
In recent years, Kimbanguism has developed from an ecumenically oriented African-instituted church into a new religion. Accordingly, their membership with the World Council of Churches was discontinued in 2021. This process of theological change and reorientation is clearly traced and illustrated on the basis of previously unseen WCC archive materials. The six chapters also show the six phases how the process of disengagement from a religious belief is progressing to start a new religion.
Benjamin Simon, Dr. theol. habil., Professor and Academic Dean at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey and Director for the World Council of Churches´ program on Ecumenical Formation. He has published monographs and many articles, and edited several books.
Preface
Narrative-Theological Preliminary Remarks
1 Formation of a Religion â The Era of Simon Kimbangu
â Phase 1: Charismatic Leader
â1 The Spiritual Sources of Simon Kimbangu
â2 Christianity among the Bakongo â Social and Political Situation
2.1 Religious Vocation of Simon Kimbangu
2.2 Assessment of the Religious Vocation by Léon Morel
â3 Kimbanguist Songs
â4 Intercultural Realities
â5 Religious Change Processes through Non-violence
2 Hidden and Official Kimbanguism â The Era of Diangienda
â Phase 2: The Replacement Process
â1 Diangiendaâs Vocation
â2 Kimbanguist Worship and Its Theology
â3 Community and Identity
â4 Socio-Cultural Diversity in the African Context
ââ4.1 Taking Off the Shoes
ââ4.2 The Kneeling
ââ4.3 Green and White â Two Colours of Symbolic Meaning
ââ4.4 The Flag
ââ4.5 The Star
ââ4.6 The Dove
ââ4.7 The Sacred Rod âmvualaâ
ââ4.8 The Steps in Nkamba
â5 The Importance of the Catechisms
â6 Suppressed Popular Faith and Its Stages of Revelation
3 The Hidden Belief Becomes Official Doctrine â The Era of Dialungana
âPhase 3: Securing Future Capability
â1 Political Turmoil of the 1990s
â2 Religious Education Strategies
ââ2.1 The Kimbanguist School System
ââ2.2 The Nkamba Bible School
4 The Social Order Acquires a Cosmic Dimension â The Era of Simon Kimbangu Kiangani
â Phase 4: Stabilisation of the New Teaching
â1 Ritual Factors
ââ1.1 The Sprinkling of âWater
ââ1.2 Blessing of the Children
ââ1.3 The Rite of Baptism
ââ1.4 The Holy Communion
ââ1.5 Bathing in the Holy Springs of Nkamba
ââ1.6 Funeral Rite
ââ1.7 The Mausoleum
ââ1.8 The Temple of Nkamba
â2 Theological Factors
ââ2.1 Holy Family
ââ2.2 Tata Elimu Santu
ââ2.3 Ba Nzambe
â3 Social and Political Factors
ââ3.1 The Attitude towards Politics
ââ3.2 Political Changes under Mobutu
ââ3.3 La Conférence Souveraine Nationale (CSN)
ââ3.4 Attitude of the Kimbanguists
ââ3.5 Pan-Africanism
5 Kimbanguism and its Ecumenical Relations â Phase 5: Termination of Previous Contacts and Networks
â1 The Application for Membership
ââ1.1 Report
ââ1.2 Decision-Making
ââ1.3 The Report by William H. Crane
â2 The 1970s and 1980s
â3 The Demise of Papa Diangienda
â4 Papa Dialungana and His Ecumenical Contacts
ââ4.1 An Attempt to Re-establish Relations
ââ4.2 Collège International
ââ4.3 WCC-Assembly in Harare
ââ4.4 The Rescheduling of Christmas
ââ4.5 Critical Questions to the WCC
5 Relationships in the New Millennium
ââ5.1 Power Claims of the Grandchildren
ââ5.2 Requests through the WCC
ââ5.3 Journées Scientifiques
ââ5.4 Dialogue Meeting between Kimbanguists and WCC
ââ5.5 The Position of the Kimbanguists
ââ5.6 Catholic Dissociation
6 Rollercoaster Ride of Ecumenical Relations
â6.1 Another Delegation Trip to the Congo
â6.2 Dissolution of the Commission de Théologie Kimbanguiste (COTHEKI)
ââ6.3 âOne more step ⦠â
ââ6.4 Meeting in Busan
ââ6.5 Joint Consultation in 2014
7 Critical Review
6 Theological Tightrope Walks
â Phase 6: Consolidation of the New Faith
â1 Complexity of Faiths
ââ1.1 Primary and Secondary Religious Experience â The Traditional Culture and Religion of the Bakongo (TRB) and Simon Kimbangu
â2 Inculturation and Its âlimitsâ or Criteria
ââ2.1 âLimitsâ of Inculturation?
ââ2.2 Convergence Method and the Development of Criteria
â3 Modalist-Kimbanguist Monarchianism
ââ3.1 Modes of Trinitarian Faith in Kimbanguism
ââ3.2 Inconsistencies in Kimbanguism: the Apostlesâ Creed
ââ3.3 Modalist-Kimbanguist Monarchianism and Its Incompatibility with the Ecumenical Formula of the WCC
â4 Genesis of a New Religion
ââ4.1 Charismatic Leader
ââ4.2 Detachment Process
ââ4.3 Securing the Future Viability
ââ4.4 Stabilisation of the New Teaching
ââ4.5 Termination of Previous Contacts and Networks
ââ4.6 Consolidation of the New Faith
Bibliography
Index
Narrative-Theological Preliminary Remarks
1 Formation of a Religion â The Era of Simon Kimbangu
â Phase 1: Charismatic Leader
â1 The Spiritual Sources of Simon Kimbangu
â2 Christianity among the Bakongo â Social and Political Situation
2.1 Religious Vocation of Simon Kimbangu
2.2 Assessment of the Religious Vocation by Léon Morel
â3 Kimbanguist Songs
â4 Intercultural Realities
â5 Religious Change Processes through Non-violence
2 Hidden and Official Kimbanguism â The Era of Diangienda
â Phase 2: The Replacement Process
â1 Diangiendaâs Vocation
â2 Kimbanguist Worship and Its Theology
â3 Community and Identity
â4 Socio-Cultural Diversity in the African Context
ââ4.1 Taking Off the Shoes
ââ4.2 The Kneeling
ââ4.3 Green and White â Two Colours of Symbolic Meaning
ââ4.4 The Flag
ââ4.5 The Star
ââ4.6 The Dove
ââ4.7 The Sacred Rod âmvualaâ
ââ4.8 The Steps in Nkamba
â5 The Importance of the Catechisms
â6 Suppressed Popular Faith and Its Stages of Revelation
3 The Hidden Belief Becomes Official Doctrine â The Era of Dialungana
âPhase 3: Securing Future Capability
â1 Political Turmoil of the 1990s
â2 Religious Education Strategies
ââ2.1 The Kimbanguist School System
ââ2.2 The Nkamba Bible School
4 The Social Order Acquires a Cosmic Dimension â The Era of Simon Kimbangu Kiangani
â Phase 4: Stabilisation of the New Teaching
â1 Ritual Factors
ââ1.1 The Sprinkling of âWater
ââ1.2 Blessing of the Children
ââ1.3 The Rite of Baptism
ââ1.4 The Holy Communion
ââ1.5 Bathing in the Holy Springs of Nkamba
ââ1.6 Funeral Rite
ââ1.7 The Mausoleum
ââ1.8 The Temple of Nkamba
â2 Theological Factors
ââ2.1 Holy Family
ââ2.2 Tata Elimu Santu
ââ2.3 Ba Nzambe
â3 Social and Political Factors
ââ3.1 The Attitude towards Politics
ââ3.2 Political Changes under Mobutu
ââ3.3 La Conférence Souveraine Nationale (CSN)
ââ3.4 Attitude of the Kimbanguists
ââ3.5 Pan-Africanism
5 Kimbanguism and its Ecumenical Relations â Phase 5: Termination of Previous Contacts and Networks
â1 The Application for Membership
ââ1.1 Report
ââ1.2 Decision-Making
ââ1.3 The Report by William H. Crane
â2 The 1970s and 1980s
â3 The Demise of Papa Diangienda
â4 Papa Dialungana and His Ecumenical Contacts
ââ4.1 An Attempt to Re-establish Relations
ââ4.2 Collège International
ââ4.3 WCC-Assembly in Harare
ââ4.4 The Rescheduling of Christmas
ââ4.5 Critical Questions to the WCC
5 Relationships in the New Millennium
ââ5.1 Power Claims of the Grandchildren
ââ5.2 Requests through the WCC
ââ5.3 Journées Scientifiques
ââ5.4 Dialogue Meeting between Kimbanguists and WCC
ââ5.5 The Position of the Kimbanguists
ââ5.6 Catholic Dissociation
6 Rollercoaster Ride of Ecumenical Relations
â6.1 Another Delegation Trip to the Congo
â6.2 Dissolution of the Commission de Théologie Kimbanguiste (COTHEKI)
ââ6.3 âOne more step ⦠â
ââ6.4 Meeting in Busan
ââ6.5 Joint Consultation in 2014
7 Critical Review
6 Theological Tightrope Walks
â Phase 6: Consolidation of the New Faith
â1 Complexity of Faiths
ââ1.1 Primary and Secondary Religious Experience â The Traditional Culture and Religion of the Bakongo (TRB) and Simon Kimbangu
â2 Inculturation and Its âlimitsâ or Criteria
ââ2.1 âLimitsâ of Inculturation?
ââ2.2 Convergence Method and the Development of Criteria
â3 Modalist-Kimbanguist Monarchianism
ââ3.1 Modes of Trinitarian Faith in Kimbanguism
ââ3.2 Inconsistencies in Kimbanguism: the Apostlesâ Creed
ââ3.3 Modalist-Kimbanguist Monarchianism and Its Incompatibility with the Ecumenical Formula of the WCC
â4 Genesis of a New Religion
ââ4.1 Charismatic Leader
ââ4.2 Detachment Process
ââ4.3 Securing the Future Viability
ââ4.4 Stabilisation of the New Teaching
ââ4.5 Termination of Previous Contacts and Networks
ââ4.6 Consolidation of the New Faith
Bibliography
Index
The book is meant for scholars of theology, religious and African studies as well as an audience interested in the Congo and questions about diaspora. The book will further be of use in Mission Studies, Missiology and Intercultural Theology as well as World Christianity.