Pentecostalism and Cultism in South Africa

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 1-17

3. Prophets in New Prophetic Churches

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 19-42

4. NPC Prophets and Religious Cult in South Africa

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 43-63

5. The Practice of Secret Cult by Some NPC Prophets in South Africa

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 65-90

6. The Sex Cult Practices of Some NPC Prophets in South Africa

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 91-111

7. NPC Prophets and the Money Cult in South Africa

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 113-134

8. NPC Prophets and the Celebrity Cult in South Africa

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 135-156

9. Dis/Continuity with Cultic Tendencies in Classical Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (PCCs)

   • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

   Pages 157-175

10. Ways of Challenging the Various Cultic Tendencies in the New Prophetic Churches

    • Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

    Pages 177-197

11. Back Matter

    Pages 199-230

    PDF

Pentecostalism is a growing movement in world Christianity. However, the growth of Pentecostalism in South Africa has faced some challenges, including the abuse of religion by some prophets. This book first names these prophets and the churches they lead in South Africa, and then makes use of literary and media analysis to analyse the religious practices by the prophets in relation to cultism. Additionally, the book analyses the “celebrity cult” and how it helps promote the prophets in South Africa. The purpose of this book is threefold: First, to draw parallels between the abuse of religion and cultism. Second, to illustrate that it is cultic tendencies, including the celebrity cult, that has given rise to many prophets in South Africa. Last, to showcase that the challenge for many of these prophets is that the Pentecostal tradition is actually anti-cultism, and thus there is a need for them to rethink their cultic tendencies in order for them to be truly relevant in a South African context.

• Pentecostalism
• Cultism
• celebrity cult
• new prophetic churches
• prophets

“The book is a welcome addition to an increasing body of literature on African Pentecostal Studies. It provides a broad application of various tools that will benefit those interested in theological studies, religious studies, sociology of religion, psychology of religion, anthropology of religion and cultic studies as well as non-academics with an interest in African Pentecostalism.” (Chammah Kaunda and John Mathews, Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, Issue 169, 2021)

“With his insider knowledge of South African Pentecostalism, Mookgo Solomon Kgatle is fast emerging as the pre-eminent scholar of this subject, and of the African prophets who are part of a new movement that has arisen in recent years. This study is a necessary read for understanding African Pentecostalism as a whole, for these movements are found throughout the sub-Sahara.” (Allan Anderson, Emeritus Professor, Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)

 

“This is a highly provocative and creative approach towards a complex religious phenomenon. The book explores dimensions that earlier researchers either overlooked or felt too hesitant to broach. I warmly commend this book to researchers and students from diverse fields and backgrounds as it provides new insights into New Prophetic Churches.” (Ezra Chitando, Associate Professor, History and Phenomenology of Religion, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe)

• University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

  Mookgo Solomon Kgatle

Mookgo Solomon Kgatle is Associate Professor at the University of South Africa. He is a National Research Foundation (NRF) Y Rated researcher (2019-2024) in the area of African Pentecostalism, and is visiting scholar at the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies-University of Birmingham (2020-2022).

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