Religious symbolism in Roman Catholicism and Kimbanguisme

To speak of symbolism, whatever the people or time, implies interpreting the teaching and behavior it conveys and demands. In this sense, all societies use symbols in various ways and circumstances. To this end, the symbol used requires a certain behavior to be adopted when presenting it. From the above, it can be said that the symbol has a social function; outside society, it does not exist. Man's environment is therefore full of natural and manufactured objects with symbolic meaning. Any element of nature can become a symbol, provided that man, by convention, designates and accepts it. However, the symbol, as used in each religion, retains a particular interest, even a meaning of its own, either in the philosophical, sociological, anthropological or spiritual sense, or in the theological and practical sense. This gives it either a social or a religious function. Despite the ever-evolving human mentality, influenced as it is by scientific and technological phenomena, man cannot and must not do without symbolism.

Autorentext

Abdon MALEBE nasceu em Magney, filho de Théodore MABELE KAMOLO e de Sévérine ANSERE(+). É casado com a Sra. Esther LUTAKU, tem um diploma DEA em Teologia Sistemática, uma licenciatura em Medicina Veterinária e uma licenciatura em Teologia Evangélica. Pastor da Igreja de Cristo no Congo/4oCEFMC da República Democrática do Congo.