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Document Details :

Title: Revelation in African Traditional Religion
Subtitle: The Theological Approach Since Vatican II
Author(s): ANAKWE OBORJI, Francis
Journal: Studies in Interreligious Dialogue
Volume: 12    Issue: 1   Date: 2002   
Pages: 5-22
DOI: 10.2143/SID.12.1.519012

Abstract :
The conceptual framework for the Church's dialogue with African Traditional Religion (ATR) bagan with the publication of Pope Paul VI's apostolic message Africae terrarum (29 October 1967). The significant thing about this documentis that it appeared shortly after the publication of the encyclical Ecclessiam suam (6 August 1964) (ES), and the establishment of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID). The encyclical ES and the Vatican II declaration on the Church's relation with other religions Nostra Aetate (NA) consolidated the new kind of thinking that is developing among Catholic theologians on the doctrine of revelation and salvation in non-Christian religions. The documents spoke reverently of other faith traditions, especially those who adore the one Supreme God whom Christians adore. But tne two documents did not specifically mention ATR in the same way they spoke of the great religions of Asia. So the necessity for the publication of the apostolic message Africae terrarum and the series of consultations and publications on ATR carried out by the PCID.

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