Ethical Aspects of the Prosperity Gospel in the Light of the Arguments Presented by Antonio Spadaro and Marcelo Figueroa

Bibliographic Data

ID3561671
AuthorsAndrzej Kobyliński (0000-0003-2252-8634, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume12
Issue11
Pages996
Publication date2021-11-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel12110996
OpenAlexW3213076248
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited22

The main aim of the article is to analyze the Prosperity Gospel as an important element of the contemporary pentecostalization of Christianity. The essence of this global process is the emergence of thousands of new Pentecostal denominations and the transformation of other traditional churches into a single, syncretic variety of charismatic Christianity on a global scale. Pentecostal religiosity is characterized, among other things, by prayer in tongues, miracles, exorcisms, healing services, etc. Another key element of this new syncretic religiosity is the Prosperity Gospel which represents the belief that faith may lead to wealth, health and prosperity, and the lack of it ends in poverty, disease, and misfortune. Critics of this new religiosity point out that God must not be seen merely as a realizer of human dreams of happiness, health and wealth. The first part of the article discusses the specific nature of the global process of the pentecostalization of Christianity. It then goes on to present an interpretation of the most important elements of the Prosperity Gospel. In the next part of the article, various charges against the Prosperity Gospel are analyzed, including arguments presented in the widely commented articles that Antonio Spadaro and Marcelo Figueroa published on this topic in 2017-2018

Charisma · Christianity · Environmental ethics · Gospel · Happiness · Political science · Prosperity · Religiosity · Sociology · Theology · Christian Theology and Mission · Law · Pentecostalism and Christianity Studies · Philosophy · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious studies

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