African New Prophetic Pentecostalism and Human Flourishing

Mookgo Solomon Kgatle is Professor of Missiology at the University of South Africa. Collium Banda is Extraordinary Research Fellow at North-West University, South Africa Anthony Reddie is Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture.

Introduction – Collium Banda: Black Theology and Human Flourishing in South African Neo-Pentecostal Prophetism – Sello Jonas Thinane: Religion and Economy: The Nexus between the ECG Church Leader’s Lavish Lifestyle and His Congregants’ Human Flourishing – Bekithemba Dube: Human Unflourishing at Universal Church of the Kingdom of God: A Decoloniality Approach – Sphesihle Khanyile: From Christianity to Plentianity: Reading Discourses of Human Flourishing, Prosperity Gospel, and Black Emancipation in King HQ Nala’s Virtual Sermons – Sibusiso Masondo: Blessing Seekers or Bounty Hunters?: The Case of the Followers of Prosperity Preachers in South Africa – Kelebogile Resane: Human Flourishing in African Pentecostal Prophetism: Authentic or a Fallacy? – Abraham Modisa Mkhondo Mzondi: “Not yet Uhuru”: Looking at the Poor, Ubuntu, African Pentecostal Prophetism and Human Flourishing in the Post–1990 South African Context – Marius Nel: Prophetic Neo-Pentecostal Churches and the Theodicy Challenge – Mookgo S. Kgatle, Anthony Reddie, and Collium Banda: Epilogue – Notes on Contributors – Index.

This volume provides a uniquely fresh perspective on African Pentecostalism by linking three important discursive fields: human flourishing, charismatic Pentecostalism, and decoloniality. The volume provides important insights into the normative notions brought forward by prophetic Pentecostalism on what constitutes a good life. It thereby substantially advances the debate on Pentecostalism and prosperity. Even though the book zooms in on South Africa, its chapters bear relevance far beyond. The volume is therefore a must-read for anyone wanting to engage with current trends in African Christianity.
Philipp Öhlmann
Associated Senior Researcher at the Center for Rural Development
Humboldt University, Research Fellow, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana.

This is an intellectually stimulating, original, and thought-provoking contribution to the field of African Pentecostal Studies. It has not failed to deliver and must be read to understand new creative interpretations of the movements by African Christian scholars.
Chammah Kaunda
Assistant Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea.
Extraordinary Professor, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

This important book creatively explores human flourishing in the context of New Prophetic Pentecostalism in Africa. It should be read by all who are interested in the most recent developments of Southern African Pentecostalism and those concerned about genuine human flourishing in the church and wider society.
Simo Frestadius
Dr. Simo Frestadius,
Dean of Research, Regents Theological College
Executive Director, Institute for Pentecostal Theology
Chair, European Pentecostal Theological Association