Summary
Using as case in point the Tokoist Church in Angola, one of the largest Christian movements in Angola, I address the issue of temporal repetition in Christianity, focusing on the ideological and moral aspects involved in what could be seen as a 'theo-teleology': narrative and ritual displays that enact and simultaneously perform a theory of time. Describing the emergence and role of the concept of 're-remembrance' (relembramento) in the Tokoist Church's theology, I will explain how it addresses other, secular conceptions of time in Angola, which are mediated by the transition from colonial to independent, socialist and authoritarian regime. In this respect, I will argue that such Christian-based discourses on temporal cyclicity operate as conservative arguments vis-à-vis contemporary political conflict.
Keywords
Temporality. Historical repetition. Angola. Religion. Politics.