“Life, events, and phenomena derive meaning, value, and significance through relationship to an organic whole. The family or community is understood as just such a whole. And, since nothing of significance is merely physical, the community itself becomes a metaphysical reality. We say that the African family includes the dead, the living, and the yet unborn. Its significance is multidimensional; ancestor communion and its wholeness gives meaning and definition to the family members. In addition, the philosophical conception of ancestor communion helps to explain the African concept of sacred time. Spiritual realities are timeless, that is, they are not limited by ordinary categories of time and space. Through its association with spirit, matter becomes ontologically related to the eternal. Sacred time is not perceived lineally, but cyclically, and so categories and perceptions of past, present, and future are eliminated in religious life. These are terms applicable only within the profane, mundane, or secular world…. Through sacred time, life and time are continually regenerated, space is expanded; the eternal is achieved! What is called past, present, and future in lineal terms, are not separated but are joined together in a phenomenal and spatial unity. This is made possible through the extraordinary mechanism of ritual drama.” Marimba Ani a.k.a Dona Richards Article title “The Implication of African-American Spirituality” Book title “African Culture: The Rhythms of Unity” Edited by Molefi Kete Asante and Kariamu Welsh Asante Page 212
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 14:07:48 +0000
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