عنوان

Coping with Evil in Ghanaian Pentecostalism

LA110661

انگلیسی

Coping with Evil in Ghanaian Pentecostalism

[Article]

Joseph Quayesi-Amakye

Leiden

Brill

From songs, sermons and practices, this article examines the way Ghanaian Pentecostals address the question of evil and suffering. It approaches this from the perspective of common believers and leadership. The discussions reveal that there are multiple understandings, perceptions and interpretative tensions concerning how to cope with evil among Ghanaian Pentecostals. Whereas common believers approach it through what Opoku Onyinah calls 'witchdemonology', leadership considers this as inadequate. This is because common believers fail to understand the role of evil and suffering in human existence. As such they tend to promote the devil far above the Almighty God. According to leadership the presence of evil may not necessarily contradict God's goodness and purpose. The paper concludes with some Biblical propositions in an attempt to resolve the apparent tension. From songs, sermons and practices, this article examines the way Ghanaian Pentecostals address the question of evil and suffering. It approaches this from the perspective of common believers and leadership. The discussions reveal that there are multiple understandings, perceptions and interpretative tensions concerning how to cope with evil among Ghanaian Pentecostals. Whereas common believers approach it through what Opoku Onyinah calls 'witchdemonology', leadership considers this as inadequate. This is because common believers fail to understand the role of evil and suffering in human existence. As such they tend to promote the devil far above the Almighty God. According to leadership the presence of evil may not necessarily contradict God's goodness and purpose. The paper concludes with some Biblical propositions in an attempt to resolve the apparent tension.

2014

254-272

Exchange

43/3

1572-543X

debatable contextualisation

evil and suffering

false contextualisation

Ghanaian Pentecostals

Joseph Quayesi-Amakye

10.1163/1572543X-12341327

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y