Since the mid-eighties, Cameron has been going through a serious economic crisis. In the same years it has witnessed the proliferation and flourishing of Pentecostal groups-most of them coming in... Show moreSince the mid-eighties, Cameron has been going through a serious economic crisis. In the same years it has witnessed the proliferation and flourishing of Pentecostal groups-most of them coming in from Nigeria and with a gospel of prosperity as opposed to the gospel of asceticism of classical Pentecostalism. Earlier Pentecostal groups, which had adopted asceticism, are shifting to this new gospel. The rise and spread of Pentecostalism during this period of the crisis, coupled with the mass defection from the established churches could be interpreted as a public sign of dissatisfaction by Christians with the way the established churches have gone about addressing the spiritual and material needs of their followers. As a strategy of not loosing members to Pentecostal groups, mainline churches are gradually adopting the attractive doctrines and practices of Pentecostal groups. Within this period, Cameroon has also been going through a difficult democratization process, which most observers and the public attribute to government__s reluctance to introduce genuine democratic institutions. Mainline churches have been at the forefront of efforts to see a truly democratic society take root in Cameroon. While these churches are making this contribution, Pentecostal churches maintain a more or less neutral position on political issues. Show less
In deze inaugurele rede analyseert de auteur de betekenis van ritueel; met name karakteriseert hij de rite in contrast met sport. Sport en religie komen in onze huidige maatschappij steeds dichter... Show moreIn deze inaugurele rede analyseert de auteur de betekenis van ritueel; met name karakteriseert hij de rite in contrast met sport. Sport en religie komen in onze huidige maatschappij steeds dichter bij elkaar te liggen, be‹nvloeden elkaar, roepen vergelijkbare emoties op en worden soms bijna identiek geacht. De auteur argumenteert waarom zij elkaars structurele tegendeel zijn, als leden van een groeiende familie van virtuele werelden. Daartoe gaat hij eerst in op de discussie over de betekenisloosheid van ritueel teneinde de virtuele wereld van de rite en religie te karakteriseren. Daarna maakt hij een vergelijking met de sport. Voor het ritueelmateriaal maakt hij gebruik van zijn ervaringen in Afrika bij de Dogon (Mali) en Kapsiki (Kameroen). [Samenvatting ASC Leiden] Show less
Cameroon's economic crisis has led to widespread unemployment and poverty since the 1980s. Civil society organizations, including the churches, believe that bad governance is at the heart of the... Show moreCameroon's economic crisis has led to widespread unemployment and poverty since the 1980s. Civil society organizations, including the churches, believe that bad governance is at the heart of the country's economic problems and are calling for the introduction of democratic institutions. However, a growing number of Pentecostal churches, especially in Anglophone Cameroon, are also offering an attractive message of salvation to the suffering masses. This study considers how the new gospel of accumulation and prosperity relates to the material predicaments of Cameroonians. It investigates the transition from 'classical' to 'modern' Pentecostalism and the continuous defection of members of the mainline churches to the new Pentecostal groups that are propagating this gospel of prosperity as opposed to the ascetic doctrine of mainline groups. The book consists of five published articles and a general introduction. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
