Tuesday, January 18, 2005
CATHOLIC DEFINITION OF "TRADITIONAL RELIGION"
Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, gives the current Catholic "spin" on the "traditional religions":
Archbishop Fitzgerald explained that "when we speak of traditional religions, we are thinking of ethnic or tribal religions, that is, those that have developed in a specific ethnic group and which, therefore, are different from the world religions, which go beyond national borders."
"When we speak of traditional religions, we often think primarily of Africa," he explained on Vatican Radio. "But they are not only in Africa. There is the whole spirituality of the Indians in Latin America. There is also the African religion that has gone to Latin America."
These religions are also present in Asia. "In India, they are called 'tribal' and they have their particular spirituality, while in the Philippines followers of traditional religions live in the hills and mountains," he added.
"We avoid the word 'animist,' as it gives the idea that animism considers wind, water and animals as inhabited by spirits which demand worship: In reality, it is not so," the prelate said.
"Normally in these religions there is belief in the creator God, a supreme God, but there are also other mediating entities between God and humanity: forebears and other spirits. But it is not worship where a forest, tree, etc., is venerated. Divinity is not there," the archbishop said.
Now remember that next time one of the diocesan websites puts up a prayer to the four directions!
Sheesh!! :(
When Christ returns, will there be any faith on the earth?
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
