Skip to content
The University of Edinburgh

New Directions in the Anthropology of Christianity

New Directions in the Anthropology of Christianity
  • Home
  • About
    • Curator contacts
  • Bloomsbury book series
  • Reviews
    • Books
    • Films
    • Forums
  • Resources
    • Author interviews
    • Teaching archive
    • Bibliography
    • Conference Dispatches
  • Occasional papers

Haynes, “Zambia Shall be Saved!”

Haynes, Naomi. 2015. “Zambia Shall be Saved!” Prosperity Gospel Politics in a Self-Proclaimed Nation. Nova Religio 19(1): 5-24.

Abstract: This article explores the increasingly common argument that Pentecostal Christianity, far from being apolitical, is very politically engaged. I make two contributions to this discussion. First, my analysis provides a detailed account of how Pentecostal religious life serves as political engagement in an especially significant ethnographic context: Zambia, the only African country to make a constitutional declaration that it is a “Christian nation.” For Zambian Pentecostals, “the declaration” is a covenant with God made according to the principles of the prosperity gospel. By regularly reaffirming that covenant through prayer, believers do political work. My treatment of the prosperity gospel represents the second contribution of this article. Whereas others have argued that the prosperity gospel undermines public engagement, I show how its practices inform the political efforts of Zambian believers. I conclude by reflecting on how changes in the prosperity gospel may shape the future political actions of African Pentecostals.

AfricaNaomi HaynesPentecosalismPolitical engagementprosperity theologyZambia
August 6, 2015 ndca-admin Bibliography Leave a comment

Share this:

Author interviews

Teaching archive

Bibliography

Conference dispatches

Contact

Contact details are listed on the Curator Contacts page.

Banner image photo credits:
Sacred Heart - Naomi Haynes
Man painting, Dolls, Candles, Monastery Artabyunk - Hillary Kaell
Car - James Bielo

Subscribe

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates.


  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy & cookies
  • Modern slavery
  • Website accessibility
  • Freedom of information publication scheme

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 592 9507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a “Recognised body” which has been granted degree awarding powers.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all material is copyright © The University of Edinburgh.