Innovation and Competition in Zimbabwean Pentecostalism: Megachurches and the Marketization of Religion
Ebook
Using the concept of a “religious market”, this volume explores how African Traditional Religions and churches within Prophetic Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe seek to attract and retain members and clients.
Chapters provide extensive coverage of two of the leading churches, namely, Emmanuel Makandiwa's United Family International Church (UFIC) and Walter Magaya's Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD). Contributors also explore the strategies adopted by Pentecostalism in general, while others focus on African Traditional Religions. They show that although Prophetic Pentecostalism has gained a significant share of the market in Zimbabwe and in Southern Africa in general, it is not without controversy. In particular, it has been associated with the abuse of women and exploiting members and clients for financial gain.
Innovation and Competition in Zimbabwean Pentecostalism is an important contribution to understanding the marketization of religion.
Provides a rich and complex depiction of Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe, focusing on their innovation in a competitive market.
Provides detailed descriptions of innovation in two of the leading Prophetic Pentecostal Churches in Zimbabwe
Offers insight into the persistence of African Traditional Religions in contemporary Prophetic Pentecostalism
Creative use of the concepts of innovation and competition in a specific religious context.
Introduction: Innovation and Competition in Zimbabwean Pentecostalism
1. Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe and the Re-vitalization of African Traditional Religions: a comparative analysis of the newer religious movements, Kudzai Biri (University of Zimbabwe)
2. Miracles, Muti and Magic: An inquiry into the analogous nature of Pentecostal miracles and African traditional beliefs, Obert Bernard Mlambo and Clive Tendai Zimunya (University of Zimbabwe)
3. The Devil is on Fire: Analysing Pentecostalism as a place of refuge amidst economic and political turmoil in Zimbabwe in the decade, 2000 – 2010, Lovemore Ndlovu (Independent scholar)
4. Pentecostal Prophets Emmanuel Makandiwa and Walter Magaya: masculinity, competition and the postcolonial state in Zimbabwe, Ezra Chitando (University of Zimbabwe)
5. Religion in a new era: pentecostalism and innovation in prophetic healing and deliverance ministries in Zimbabwe, Tabona Shoko (University of Zimbabwe)
6. Re-branding Pentecostalism: an analysis of the United Family International Church and Prophetic Healing Deliverance Church, Molly Manyonganise (Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe)
7. Survival of the Fittest! A comparative analysis of United Family International Church and Prophetic and Healing Deliverance Ministries, Fungai Chirongoma (University of Cape Town, South Africa)
8. Old Wine in new Wine Skins: Continuities and discontinuities of African traditional anthropological beliefs in DiVineyard Church of His Presence, Fortune Sibanda (Great Zimbabwe University)
9. Competition and Complementarity in Newer Zimbabwean Pentecostal Ministries, Tenson Muyambo (Ezekiel Guti University, Zimbabwe)
10. The quest for unique identity in the prophetic ministry in Harare: the case of prophetic healing and deliverance ministry, Martin Mujinga (United Theological College, Zimbabwe)
11. “Serve God Full Time and Overtime”: Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe and the re-configuration of the Gospel of Prosperity, Kudzai Biri (University of Zimbabwe)
12.Older and Newer Zimbabwean Pentecostal Churches' Focus on the Prosperity Gospel: A Comparative Analysis, Phillip Musoni (University of South Africa, South Africa)
13. At the Mercy of 'the Man of God'? Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe, Tapiwa P. Mapuranga ( University of Zimbabwe)
14. Lampooning Prophetic Pentecostal Christianity in Zimbabwe: The case of bus stop TV, Ezra Chitando and Kelvin Chikonzo (University of Zimbabwe)
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
[T]his volume successfully demonstrates that ATR with its many manifestations of the spirit, lives on in contemporary and modern Zimbabwean society via the Pentecostal phenomena.
This book offers an intriguing, often scandalous account of competition among Pentecostal leaders in Zimbabwe through analyses that successfully call attention to healing as a constant felt need in contexts where health systems have been severally compromised.
- Title: Innovation and Competition in Zimbabwean Pentecostalism: Megachurches and the Marketization of Religion
- Author: Ezra Chitando
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781350176034, 9781350213272, 1350213276, 1350176036
- Resource ID: LLS:9781350176034
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-04-09T05:38:29Z
Ezra Chitando is Professor of History and Phenomenology of Religion at the University of Zimbabwe, and Theology Consultant on HIV and AIDS for the World Council of Churches.