Modern/charismatic Pentecostalism as a form of ‘religious’ secularisation in Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/95Keywords:
Pentecostalism, religious secularisation, ZimbabweAbstract
This paper argues that although Pentecostalism seems to be reviving Christianity in Africa, judging by the number of people attracted to this brand of Christianity, there is an extent to which its practices and beliefs are secular. Perhaps it is this ‘secularisation’ that remains a pull factor of this kind of Christianity. To do so, the paper begins with a brief review of the secularisation theory, reaching a conclusion that secularisation involves people’s concern with proximate (this worldly) issues rather than ultimate (post-mortem) issues. With this understanding of secularisation, the paper then discusses beliefs and practices of charismatic Pentecostal churches that this author believes make Pentecostalism a form of ‘religious’ secularisation. The focus will specifically be on Zimbabwean charismatic Pentecostal leaders’ discourses of wealth and health.
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Togarasei, L. 2007. 'Making money, spreading the gospel: Analyzing the "mission" of gospel musicians in contemporary Zimbabwe.'Muziki: Journal of Music Research in Africa, 52-66.
Togarasei, L. 2012. 'Mediating the gospel: Pentecostal Christianity and media technology in Botswana and Zimbabwe. ' Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 27(2): 257-274.
Ukah, A. 2006. 'Branding God: Advertising and the Pentecostal industry in Nigeria. ' Liwur am: Journal of Humanities, Vol. 13: 83-106.
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Bruce, S. 1990. A house divided: Protestantism, Schism and secularization, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Burgess, R. 2011. 'Bringing back the Gospel: Reverse mission among Nigerian Pentecostals in
Britain,' Journal of Religion in Europe, Vol. 4(3): 493-522.
Casanova, J. 1994. Public religions in the modern world. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Cox, H. 1995. Fire from heaven: The rise of Pentecostal Christianity and the reshaping of the
religion in the twenty-first century. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Czegledy A.P. 2008. 'A new Christianity for a new South Africa: Charismatic Christianity and the new post-apartheid order.' Journal of Religion in Africa, Vol. 38: 284-311.
Dallmay.r, F. 1999. 'Rethinking secularism.' The Review ofPolitics, Vol. 61(4): 715-735.
Elphick, R. 1997. 'Introduction: Christianity in South African history.' In Christianity in South Africa: Political, social and cultural history, R. Elphick and R. Davenport eds. p. 1-15. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Gerloff, R. 2008. 'Churches of the Spirit: The Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement and Africa's Contribution to the Renewal of Christianity.' In Christianity in Africa and the African Diaspora: The Appropriation of a Scattered Heritage,A. Adogame, R. Gerloff and K. Hock, eds. p. 208-220. London and New York: Continuum International Publication Group.
Giddens, A. 1998. Conversations with Anthony Giddens: Making sense of modernity California: Stanford University Press.
Gunda, R. Forthcoming. 'The Pentecostal Gospel of Prosperity and the divisive nature of mega-church superstar men of God (Prophets) in Zimbabwe.' In Spirit Filled: Pentecostal Christianity in Zimbabwe, L. Togarasei, ed.
Haralambos, M. and M. Holborn. 2004. Sociology: Themes and perspectives. London: Collins.
Hunt, S. 2000. 'Winning ways: Globalisation and the impact of the health and wealth gospel.'
Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 15(3): 331-347.
Jenkins, P. 2002. The next Christendom: The coming of global Christianity Oxford University
Press.
Kenny, A. and G. Smyth. 1997. 'Secularism and Secularisation. ' Studies: An Irish Quarterly
Review, Vol. 86(344): 315-330.
Lechner, F.J. (n.d.) 'Secularization,' http://www.sociology.emory.edu/flechner/Secularization%20
Encyclopedia%20of'/o20Protestantism%202003.pdf (accessed 10/04/13).
Marshall, R. 1992. 'Pentecostalism in Southern Nigeria: An overview. ' In New dimensions in
African Christianity, P. Gifford, ed. p. 7-32. Nairobi: All Africa Conference of Churches.
Martin, D. 2005. On secularization: Towards a revised general theory. Hants: Ashgate.
Mashau,T.D. 2009. 'A reformed missional perspective on secularism and pluralism in Africa: Their impact on African Christianity and the revival of traditional religion. ' Calvin Theological Journal, Vol. 44: 108-126.
Maxwell, D. 2006. African gifts of the Spirit. Harare: Weaver Press.
Mills, C.W. 1959. The sociological imagination. New York: Oxford University Press.
Mbiti, J.S. 1969. African religions and philosophy London: Heinemarm.
Phiri, G. (n.d.) 'U ebertAngel's $1million sports car,' http://nehandaradio.com/2013/02/07/uebertÂ
angels-1-million-sports-car/ (accessed 17 June 2013).
Samarin, W.J. 1966. 'Religion and modernization in Africa.' Anthropological Quarterly, Vol.
39(4): 288-297.
Shorter, A. (n.d.) http://sedosmission.org/old/eng/shorter.htm (accessed 18 June 2013)
Somerville, J. 1998. 'Secular society religious population: Our tacit rules for using the term
secularization. 'Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Vol. 37(2):249-53.
TerHaar, G. 1998. Halfway to paradise: African Christians in Europe. Cardiff Academic Press.
Togarasei, L. 2007. 'Making money, spreading the gospel: Analyzing the "mission" of gospel musicians in contemporary Zimbabwe.'Muziki: Journal of Music Research in Africa, 52-66.
Togarasei, L. 2012. 'Mediating the gospel: Pentecostal Christianity and media technology in Botswana and Zimbabwe. ' Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 27(2): 257-274.
Ukah, A. 2006. 'Branding God: Advertising and the Pentecostal industry in Nigeria. ' Liwur am: Journal of Humanities, Vol. 13: 83-106.
Walls, A. 2002. The cross-cultural process in Christian History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Williams, D. T. 2008. 'A kenotic response to secularity.'Koers, Vol. 73:1, 101-119.
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Published
2015-08-03
How to Cite
Togarasei, Lovemore. 2015. “Modern/Charismatic/Pentecostalism/As/a/Form/of/‘religious’/Secularisation/in/Africa”. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 41 (1):56-66. https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/95.
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