Passing On Tradition in Christianity and In Africa Case Study in Bamputu People of the Democratic Republic Of Congo
Date
2001-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
The concept of tradition has been one of the most debated topics over the centuries. We
see how the world today is divided into different categories of people who follow
different ideologies in life. Some people prefer to keep the tradition of their ancestors
without deviating from it, so that they may harmonize the style of life in their
community. While others do not even want to hear people talking about tradition. They
see ancient customs and practices as backward. They live according to the present day
trends.
It is true that some people misunderstand the concept of tradition in their life. Some
strictly follow their traditions and principles without looking at the signs of times. They
do not see how their tradition encounters other cultures. On the other hand, there are
other people who take into consideration their tradition and try to adapt it to the signs of
times and to the different cultures their tradition has encountered so that they may have
good harmony in the society. "Tradition, in the true sense of the word, implies a
spontaneous assimilation of the past in understanding the present, without a break in the
continuity of a society's life, and without considering the past as outmoded".
Moreover, we cannot build our society without having a retrospective regard to the past.
As Yves Congar puts it, "Tradition remains linked to its roots"2. Most Theologians have
been studying, in a systematic way, how the Christian tradition has been handed over
from one generation to another and how the same tradition has encountered other
cultures. In our work, we will look at the Christian tradition and how it encountered the Bamputu
tradition, a tradition within Africa. Congar's view on tradition will help us to understand
and get the meaning of the concept of tradition.
In understanding the meaning of tradition in Christianity and in the Bamputu people, we
will compare them and sort out the similar and the divergent elements of the two
traditions and bring out the pastoral implications for the local people so that Christianity
may feel at home.
Our work is divided into five chapters. The first chapter deals with the understanding of
the concept of tradition. The second chapter analyses the foundations of the Christian
tradition and how it was handed on from one generation to the next. The third chapter is
on the foundation of the Bamputu tradition and its transmission from one generation to
another. The fourth chapter is on the parallelism and dissimilarity of the two traditions.
The fifth chapter deals with the pastoral implications of the Bamputu tradition and its
holistic approach to inculturation. This will be followed by a general conclusion.
Description
Keywords
Tradition in Christianity, Bamputu People, Bamputu Traditions, Magisterium, catechism, Pastoral implications