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The Prosperity Gospel in the African Diaspora: Unethical Theology or Gospel in Context?

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Author

  • Mika Vähäkangas

Summary, in English

The prosperity gospel in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Hosanna Chapel, Helsinki, Finland, builds primarily on African indigenous worldviews rather than serving as a theological justification for capitalism. It is a contextual African interpretation of the gospel in a situation of tension between the expectations of extended families back home, those of the new society in which the immigrants find themselves, and the church. The African experience and heritage come to the fore especially in the strong

emphasis placed on interpersonal relations, particularly with family members and God, as an essential part of prosperity. Naïve faith in the bliss of equal opportunities within capitalism is moderated by differentiation between realistic economic expectations and the special blessings that are endowed upon believers. When condemning

the prosperity gospel wholesale, there is the risk of misinterpreting non-Western theologies and of morally castigating the weakest for their attempts to survive global capitalism instead of combating its oppressive structures.

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

353-380

Publication/Series

Exchange

Volume

44

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Brill

Topic

  • Religious Studies

Keywords

  • African Christianity
  • prosperity gospel
  • religion and economy
  • African diaspora churches

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0166-2740