Paladin D Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [url="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29777984/"]Growing African church often splits with pope[/url] Or so MSNBC says anyway. You will more than likely find the same amount (or more) who support the Pope in Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Paladin D' post='1812120' date='Mar 20 2009, 12:46 AM'][url="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29777984/"]Growing African church often splits with pope[/url] Or so MSNBC says anyway. You will more than likely find the same amount (or more) who support the Pope in Africa.[/quote] I suppose the one part open to debate is the celibacy thing. If it were a huge stumbling block culturally, then in theory there could be dispensation for African priests to marry, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1812123' date='Mar 20 2009, 02:56 AM']I suppose the one part open to debate is the celibacy thing. If it were a huge stumbling block culturally, then in theory there could be dispensation for African priests to marry, right?[/quote] Call me ignorant, but isn't celibacy also looked down upon the same way in Canada and the States too? You're not viewed as a real man (or woman) until you've slept with someone, at least what is what society tries telling us. I don't see how Africa would receive such a dispensation for something that also affects North America and Europe. Edited March 20, 2009 by Paladin D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Paladin D' post='1812126' date='Mar 20 2009, 12:59 AM']Call me ignorant, but isn't celibacy also looked down upon in Canada and the States too? You're not viewed as a real man or woman until you've slept with someone, at least what is what society tries telling us.[/quote] This is a different situation though. This is the media pushing a disordered, but still relatively recent view of things on us. In the past yea, a normal person was somewhat looked down on if they had no children, but priests were in a realm of their own. In Africa, the culture is still quite tribal, or so I've been lead to believe. The syncretism between Christianity and folk religions is fairly widespread. Comparing it to here doesn't work in that the entire way of thinking is different than ours. Different problem, different solution. At least potentially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1812127' date='Mar 20 2009, 03:03 AM']In Africa, the culture is still quite tribal, or so I've been lead to believe. The syncretism between Christianity and folk religions is fairly widespread. Comparing it to here doesn't work in that the entire way of thinking is different than ours. Different problem, different solution. At least potentially.[/quote] Interesting, thanks for shedding some light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Paladin D' post='1812137' date='Mar 20 2009, 01:13 AM']Interesting, thanks for shedding some light. [/quote] Bah, I'm no expert. Just 'logical' reasoning based on what I do know about Africa (it's big and warm and tribal). Also I wanted to contribute something worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwannabe 777 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 As an African, I just want to tell you guys that I don't care what msnbc tells you, Africa loves the pope. In my country of Benin, the Charismatic Renewal is going full force, and they love the Pope. They pray hard and their seminaries are overflowing. Its in insult to me that msnbc is saying my people don't like the pope. Also, Nihil, the syncretism between Christianity and folk religions is not very common. The media wants people to believe that most Africans still live in clay huts and wear no clothes, but I'll tell you that many Africans live in cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) [quote name='saintwannabe 777' post='1812164' date='Mar 20 2009, 05:02 AM']As an African, I just want to tell you guys that I don't care what msnbc tells you, Africa loves the pope. In my country of Benin, the Charismatic Renewal is going full force, and they love the Pope. They pray hard and their seminaries are overflowing. Its in insult to me that msnbc is saying my people don't like the pope. Also, Nihil, the syncretism between Christianity and folk religions is not very common. The media wants people to believe that most Africans still live in clay huts and wear no clothes, but I'll tell you that many Africans live in cities.[/quote] Thanks for sharing some insight on the situation, especially since you're from that part of the world. I had a feeling that MSNBC was being rather slated, and probally only interviewed a small pool of people that were only but a minority to what the overall Catholic population thinks of the Pope. In my area alone, all the Catholic parishes (5 total) are run by 3 African priests (Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya). They are very passionate about the Faith, each with their own distinctive style, and loyal to the Church (one of them holds a Ph.D and used to be a university professor). Edited March 20, 2009 by Paladin D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I wonder what MSNBC will say if the next pope comes from Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RemnantRules Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Well said Catherine. But this report holds weak. They report from one source saying priest not being celebate is running rampat in South Africa, but never gives specifics and the vast numbers they can come up with are two priests. I'm not saying it's not a good thing and the priests that are sinning need to be dealt with according, but the gross over-exaggeration of it all makes me roll my eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwannabe 777 Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 It's just proof that the Church is gonna have to buckle down in these hard times. Our glory will come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='saintwannabe 777' post='1812164' date='Mar 20 2009, 03:02 AM']As an African, I just want to tell you guys that I don't care what msnbc tells you, Africa loves the pope. In my country of Benin, the Charismatic Renewal is going full force, and they love the Pope. They pray hard and their seminaries are overflowing. Its in insult to me that msnbc is saying my people don't like the pope. Also, Nihil, the syncretism between Christianity and folk religions is not very common. The media wants people to believe that most Africans still live in clay huts and wear no clothes, but I'll tell you that many Africans live in cities.[/quote] That's fair enough, but you live in a city, and Africa is a large continent. Would it be fair to suspect that there is a higher degree of syncretism in rural areas? In Canada and probably the States as well, Native American traditional religions often become mixed with Catholicism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwannabe 777 Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1812698' date='Mar 20 2009, 11:16 PM']That's fair enough, but you live in a city, and Africa is a large continent. Would it be fair to suspect that there is a higher degree of syncretism in rural areas? In Canada and probably the States as well, Native American traditional religions often become mixed with Catholicism.[/quote] Yeah, youh have a point, I live in the states and have only been to the west coast of Africa. But, I guess it would depends what you mean by syncretism. At Charismatic Renewal prayer meetings and Healing Masses, I've seen some crazy stuff, that I know is true. I've seen possessed people throw up when looking at the raised Eucharist, in Africa, it's like the veil between Earth and the Afterlife is torn away. The syncretism comes from the voodoo and black magic that many practice and Jesus frees so many from that. That's why the Charismatic Renewal is flourishing over there. Edited March 21, 2009 by saintwannabe 777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='saintwannabe 777' post='1812705' date='Mar 20 2009, 11:20 PM']I've seen possessed people throw up when looking at the raised Eucharist, in Africa, it's like the veil between Earth and the Afterlife is torn away. The syncretism comes from the voodoo and black magic that many practice and Jesus frees so many from that. That's why the Charismatic Renewal is flourishing over there.[/quote] Wow that is crazy. Godbless you pham ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisvilleFan Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1812698' date='Mar 20 2009, 11:16 PM']In Canada and probably the States as well, Native American traditional religions often become mixed with Catholicism.[/quote] There are reports that in the Western world, Christianity is often blended with folk religions like materialism, post-modernism, individualism, self-worship, and even child sacrifices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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