Genesis of 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.

• PrefaceNarrative-Theological Preliminary Remarks1 Formation of a Religion – The Era of Simon KimbanguPhase 1: Charismatic Leader1 The Spiritual Sources of Simon Kimbangu2 Christianity among the Bakongo – Social and Political Situation2.1 Religious Vocation of Simon Kimbangu2.2 Assessment of the Religious Vocation by Léon Morel3 Kimbanguist Songs4 Intercultural Realities5 Religious Change Processes through Non-violence2 Hidden and Official Kimbanguism – The Era of DiangiendaPhase 2: The Replacement Process1 Diangienda’s Vocation2 Kimbanguist Worship and Its Theology3 Community and Identity4 Socio-Cultural Diversity in the African Context4.1 Taking Off the Shoes4.2 The Kneeling4.3 Green and White – Two Colours of Symbolic Meaning4.4 The Flag4.5 The Star4.6 The Dove4.7 The Sacred Rod “mvuala”4.8 The Steps in Nkamba5 The Importance of the Catechisms6 Suppressed Popular Faith and Its Stages of Revelation3 The Hidden Belief Becomes Official Doctrine – The Era of DialunganaPhase 3: Securing Future Capability1 Political Turmoil of the 1990s2 Religious Education Strategies2.1 The Kimbanguist School System2.2 The Nkamba Bible School4 The Social Order Acquires a Cosmic Dimension – The Era of Simon Kimbangu Kiangani Phase 4: Stabilisation of the New Teaching1 Ritual Factors1.1 The Sprinkling of  Water1.2 Blessing of the Children1.3 The Rite of Baptism1.4 The Holy Communion1.5 Bathing in the Holy Springs of Nkamba1.6 Funeral Rite1.7 The Mausoleum1.8 The Temple of Nkamba2 Theological Factors2.1 Holy Family2.2 Tata Elimu Santu2.3 Ba Nzambe3 Social and Political Factors3.1 The Attitude towards Politics3.2 Political Changes under Mobutu3.3 La Conférence Souveraine Nationale (CSN)3.4 Attitude of the Kimbanguists3.5 Pan-Africanism5 Kimbanguism and its Ecumenical RelationsPhase 5: Termination of Previous Contacts and Networks1 The Application for Membership1.1 Report1.2 Decision-Making1.3 The Report by William H. Crane2 The 1970s and 1980s3 The Demise of Papa Diangienda4 Papa Dialungana and His Ecumenical Contacts4.1 An Attempt to Re-establish Relations4.2 Collège International4.3 WCC-Assembly in Harare4.4 The Rescheduling of Christmas4.5 Critical Questions to the WCC5 Relationships in the New Millennium5.1 Power Claims of the Grandchildren5.2 Requests through the WCC5.3 Journées Scientifiques5.4 Dialogue Meeting between Kimbanguists and WCC5.5 The Position of the Kimbanguists5.6 Catholic Dissociation6 Rollercoaster Ride of Ecumenical Relations6.1 Another Delegation Trip to the Congo6.2 Dissolution of the Commission de Théologie Kimbanguiste (COTHEKI)6.3 “One more step … ”6.4 Meeting in Busan6.5 Joint Consultation in 20147 Critical Review6 Theological Tightrope Walks Phase 6: Consolidation of the New Faith1 Complexity of Faiths1.1 Primary and Secondary Religious Experience – The Traditional Culture and Religion of the Bakongo (TRB) and Simon Kimbangu2 Inculturation and Its “limits” or Criteria2.1 “Limits” of Inculturation?2.2 Convergence Method and the Development of Criteria3 Modalist-Kimbanguist Monarchianism3.1 Modes of Trinitarian Faith in Kimbanguism3.2 Inconsistencies in Kimbanguism: the Apostles’ Creed3.3 Modalist-Kimbanguist Monarchianism and Its Incompatibility with the Ecumenical Formula of the WCC4 Genesis of a New Religion4.1 Charismatic Leader4.2 Detachment Process4.3 Securing the Future Viability4.4 Stabilisation of the New Teaching4.5 Termination of Previous Contacts and Networks4.6 Consolidation of the New FaithBibliographyIndex