Proliferation of The New Religious Movements in Kinshasa-Drc A 'Threat' Or A 'Considerable Challenge' To the Catholic Church?
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Date
2003
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
Nowadays, to affirm that we live in a religiously pluralistic world is no more
saying something new, because of the tremendous changes we are experiencing in
our religious life today. The everyday encounter between people from different
cultures and faiths brings us to the discovery of a different and unfamiliar universe.
Thus Religion, being an intensely active part of the social phenomena, is deeply
rooted in the integral life and social experiences of the peoples wherever they are.
Through this essay, we shall possibly analyse the emerging phenomenon of
the proliferation of various New Religious Movements or Christians Sects in the
Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in Kinshasa, its capital city. This will
cover their impact on the people's daily life. This proliferation of NRMs is what
motivated us to choose this particular topic/reality, in order to analyse it properly
through some interviews we personally conducted to different followers of some of
those NRMs mushrooming in Kinshasa. These helped us a lot to experience and. to
some extent, try to apprehend what these NRMs have come up with.
In Kinshasa, as it is all over the D.R.C., people are free to join any religious
denomination of their choice, provided that one does not abuse other people's faith.
Hence, this freedom of religion has great influence on the entire society due to the
connectedness of one to the other living together. Since Kinshasa is now in the midst
of a religious revolution, and the search of God is actually openly declared b) •God
seekers'', the Congolese people, particularly the Kinois2, are all called to a serious thinking on their faith and the meaning of religion today. Having said this, a critical
study has to be done in order to find out if this phenomenon of NRMs actually has a
positi‘e impact on the welfare of the Kinois or is it more profitable only to the few
possessing the skills to manipulate others.
For a better apprehension of our modest reflection on the NRMs in Kinshasa,
we have subdivided this essay into three main chapters. as follows:
Chapter I will point out a broad terminological definition, the origin and the
complexity of various Sects as learnt in history. Moreover, we shall enumerate some
religious movements whose ideology was perceived as misleading the spiritual life
of many of their followers, and often opposed the Roman Catholic Church and other
Traditional Churches. Chapter 2 will develop the actual impact of the NRMs on the
life of the Kinois. Also, it analyses the kinds of people who are mostly attracted to
the NRMs, the methods used for recruitment of new members, their characteristics
and teachings, the people's expectations from these NRMs, etc.
Chapter 3 will be consecrated more on the pastoral attitude of the Catholic Church
vis-à-vis the challenges caused by these NRMs We shall enumerate some practical
strategies that our 'Mother Church' has created for a better evangelisation. in order
to gather all the people of God together like a hen gathers its chicks. A better
evangelisation, as we will see it later, needs to be carried out through sincere
Christian witness and dialogue; through good words and deeds (Mt 5: 13-18).
And finally, a general conclusion will sum up all the reflections and analyses
we will have made above on the NRMs in Kinshasa, and try to tell if really these NRMs constitute a 'threat' or rather a significant 'challenge to the Catholic Church
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Keywords
Proliferation, New Religious