Kiyombo, Desire Bakangana (2002) The Purification of Memory as a Prerequisite for Authentic Communication in the Diocese of Goma D. R. Congo. Licentiate thesis, Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
![[img]](http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png) |
PDF (The Purification of Memory as a Prerequisite for Authentic Communication in the Diocese of Goma/D. R. Congo)
2015_06_06.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (4MB) | Request a copy |
Abstract
The creation narrative concludes God's action by the creation of man and woman (Gn 1:26-2:3). Their creation in God's image and likeness raised them to a higher dignity than other creatures. The consequences are that man and woman are first called to live in communion with God (Gn3: 8-19). Secondly, they are to live in communion with one another (Gn 2: 18-25) in a reciprocal reference. Even though man and woman sinned and somehow lost the communion with God (Gn 3), it has always been God's will to bring them back to communion with him and with one another. He showed this intention through the patriarchs and the prophets. When the time was fulfilled, God sent his only Son in order to bring fully his life closer to humankind and express his love and will to them. The Incarnation of the Logos entailed a kenosis i.e. God's self-abasement. The kenotic attitude as manifested by Jesus did not limit itself only in the Incarnation, but permeated the whole of his life, becoming even the paschal sacrifice on the cross. But God vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead and exalting him. All this was motivated by the love of God (cf. Jn 3: 1 6) in order to gather the scattered children of God (In 12) in the Kingdom of God (Lk 7:22). Through baptism Christians become configured to Christ. They resolve therefore to imitate the life of their master and form together an eschatological family, the Church, which is the pre-figuration of the Kingdom of God here on earth. This adhesion entails a kenosis as it implicitly calls for a detachment from ancient ties and a categorical attachment to Christ. The reality of the diocese of Goma, nevertheless, shows that even though people adhered to faith in Christ, they are still attached to their cultural ties and value them more than their Christian identity. They thus give in easily to exclusion, killing and dispossession of other fellow Christians. Such an attitude contradicts plainly God's creative plan and the reality of the Kingdom inaugurated in Jesus Christ. This has severed people's relations with God and with one another that there is need of reconciliation with God and with one another. It means not only asking for but also offering pardon. But for this to happen, there must be a conscious realization of the past sins and a genuine quest for forgiveness. How can someone help the Christian faithful of the diocese of Goma foretaste the heavenly Kingdom through reconciliation, peace, love and communion? Based on Ph 2: 6-11, this thesis is proposing the kenosis of the Logos as a means to help people transcend their selfness. This self-transcendence leads to the reidentification with God through Jesus Christ, and to one another. It brings back communion. This kenotic attitude, the condition sine qua non for reconciliation, love and communion is what is referred to as the purification of memory.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Licentiate) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | diocese of Goma, memory purification, authentic communication |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BT Doctrinal Theology |
| Divisions: | Afro-Christiana |
| Depositing User: | Mr Christopher Mapunda |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jun 2015 13:28 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Mar 2018 11:34 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/225 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |