Pentecostal Exorcism

Witchcraft and Demonology in Ghana

Bibliographic Data

ID19920693
AuthorsOpoku Onyinah (corresponding author)
Year2012
Publication date2012-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenuePentecostal Exorcism (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/9789004397101
OpenAlexW4249256571
ISBN9789004397101
LanguageEN
Citations received17

"Witchcraft" and exorcism have long been dominant features of life in African cultures. This unique book provides a thorough, field research-based description and analysis of a specifically Pentecostal Christian response to these phenomena within the Akan culture of Ghana. Anthropological studies generally claim that the ultimate goal of exorcism is modernisation. Using interdisciplinary studies with a theological focus, the author takes a different view, arguing that it is divinatory consultation or an inquiry into the sacred and the search for meaning that underlies the current "deliverance" ministry, where the focus is to identify and break down the so-called demonic forces by the power of God and to "deliver" people from their torment. The deliverance ministry is one attempt to contextualise the gospel for African people. However, preoccupation with demonisation and exorcistic practices is found to bring Christianity into tension with the Akan culture, family ties and other religions. In order to develop a properly safeguarded ministry of exorcism in an African context, the author examines contextualisation and suggests the integration into African Christianity of divinatory consultation, which has strong resonances with the biblical concept of prayer

Archaeology · Christian ministry · Christianity · Context (archaeology) · Epistemology · Exorcism · Gospel · Meaning (existential) · Prayer · Sociology · Theology · Anthropology · Christian Theology and Mission · History · Pentecostalism and Christianity Studies · Philosophy · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious studies

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