Pentecostal Studies and African Religious Dynamics
Summary
Pentecostal Christianity has emerged as one of the fastest-growing religious movements across sub-Saharan Africa, reshaping the continent’s spiritual landscape and its intersections with social, economic and political life. Scholarship in this field examines the theological innovations of charismatic worship, the appropriation and adaptation of indigenous ritual forms, and the emergence of prosperity-focused teachings that speak to aspirations of upward mobility. Researchers address the complex interplay between Pentecostal congregations and African Traditional Religions, highlighting processes of syncretism, conflict and mutual accommodation. Attention has also turned to the role of Pentecostal communities in delivering social services, influencing electoral politics and forging new forms of communal solidarity. This body of work underscores the global significance of African Pentecostalism, from diasporic networks to transnational media ministries, and its capacity to reconfigure both local identities and broader development agendas.
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Pentecostal Studies and African Religious Dynamics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pentecostal studies and african religious dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pentecostalism: A Christian movement emphasising Spirit baptism and charismatic gifts such as speaking in tongues.
Prosperity Theology: A doctrine asserting that faith, positive confession and financial offerings lead to material wealth and physical health.
Syncretism: The blending of Christian beliefs and worship styles with indigenous religious practices and cosmologies.
African Initiated Churches (AICs): Denominations founded in Africa that integrate local cultural values and rituals into Christian worship.
References
- Christianity and the African traditional religion(s): The postcolonial round of engagement. Verbum et Ecclesia (2011).
- Charting African Prosperity Gospel economies. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies (2016).
- Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches and the Provision of Social Services in Ghana. Transformation An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies (2020).
- Pentecostalism, Politics, and Prosperity in South Africa. Religions (2018).
- African Christianities and the politics of development from below. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies (2016).
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