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Bonding in Worship: A Ritual Lens on Social Capital in African Independent Churches in South Africa
In Sub-Saharan Africa Christianity is experiencing unprecedented growth and many people worship on a regular basis. Simultaneously, many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa experience challenges such as poverty and inequality. Given this reality and these challenges, a group of international scholars investigated the ritual practices of one of the fastest growing traditions, namely African Independent Churches, over a period of more than four years. The research team set out to explore the role of religious rituals in social capital formation and social development at community level in an African Independent Church in South Africa. This book is the final, comprehensive and synthesising product in which the international and interdisciplinary team of scholars from theology, religion and development present their findings. The book is structured into three parts that reflects its theoretical, empirical and evaluative dimensions. In part I, theoretical perspectives are offered on the main conceptual apparatus of the book and the authors' own understanding of the nexus between the different concepts. In part II, the theoretical arguments of the book are further worked out by means of eight explorations comprising of qualitative field work research in the religious milieus of African Independent worshippers in Kwa Zulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In part III, a final set of chapters, by reflecting on the case studies in part II, offer wider appreciations and applications of the role religious ritual in social capital formation. This includes reflections on the African notion of ubuntu and the challenges that the ritual lens offer to policy makers in South African society, but also African society and the global South more generally speaking when seeking answers to the problem of development.
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Bonding in Worship: A Ritual Lens on Social Capital in African Independent Churches in South Africa
In Sub-Saharan Africa Christianity is experiencing unprecedented growth and many people worship on a regular basis. Simultaneously, many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa experience challenges such as poverty and inequality. Given this reality and these challenges, a group of international scholars investigated the ritual practices of one of the fastest growing traditions, namely African Independent Churches, over a period of more than four years. The research team set out to explore the role of religious rituals in social capital formation and social development at community level in an African Independent Church in South Africa. This book is the final, comprehensive and synthesising product in which the international and interdisciplinary team of scholars from theology, religion and development present their findings. The book is structured into three parts that reflects its theoretical, empirical and evaluative dimensions. In part I, theoretical perspectives are offered on the main conceptual apparatus of the book and the authors' own understanding of the nexus between the different concepts. In part II, the theoretical arguments of the book are further worked out by means of eight explorations comprising of qualitative field work research in the religious milieus of African Independent worshippers in Kwa Zulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In part III, a final set of chapters, by reflecting on the case studies in part II, offer wider appreciations and applications of the role religious ritual in social capital formation. This includes reflections on the African notion of ubuntu and the challenges that the ritual lens offer to policy makers in South African society, but also African society and the global South more generally speaking when seeking answers to the problem of development.
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Bonding in Worship: A Ritual Lens on Social Capital in African Independent Churches in South Africa

Bonding in Worship: A Ritual Lens on Social Capital in African Independent Churches in South Africa

Bonding in Worship: A Ritual Lens on Social Capital in African Independent Churches in South Africa

Bonding in Worship: A Ritual Lens on Social Capital in African Independent Churches in South Africa

Overview

In Sub-Saharan Africa Christianity is experiencing unprecedented growth and many people worship on a regular basis. Simultaneously, many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa experience challenges such as poverty and inequality. Given this reality and these challenges, a group of international scholars investigated the ritual practices of one of the fastest growing traditions, namely African Independent Churches, over a period of more than four years. The research team set out to explore the role of religious rituals in social capital formation and social development at community level in an African Independent Church in South Africa. This book is the final, comprehensive and synthesising product in which the international and interdisciplinary team of scholars from theology, religion and development present their findings. The book is structured into three parts that reflects its theoretical, empirical and evaluative dimensions. In part I, theoretical perspectives are offered on the main conceptual apparatus of the book and the authors' own understanding of the nexus between the different concepts. In part II, the theoretical arguments of the book are further worked out by means of eight explorations comprising of qualitative field work research in the religious milieus of African Independent worshippers in Kwa Zulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In part III, a final set of chapters, by reflecting on the case studies in part II, offer wider appreciations and applications of the role religious ritual in social capital formation. This includes reflections on the African notion of ubuntu and the challenges that the ritual lens offer to policy makers in South African society, but also African society and the global South more generally speaking when seeking answers to the problem of development.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9789042938335
Publisher: Peeters Publishing
Publication date: 07/10/2019
Series: Liturgia Condenda , #30
Pages: 339
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction. A ritual lens on social capital Cas Wepener Ignatius Swart Gerrie Ter Haar Marcel Barnard 1

I Theoretical and Conceptual Exploration

1 Beyond the useless/useful trap. A theory of ritual and worship reconsidered Marcel Barnard Cas Wepener Johan Cilliers 27

2 From social capital to religious social capital. Towards addressing the missing element of religious ritual Ignatius Swart Gerrie Ter Haar 47

II Case Studies

3 Initiating research on AIC rituals Cas Wepener Marcel Barnard 73

4 The life of founder bishop Johannes Richmond. The invention of tradition and social cohesion in the CCSA Cas Wepener 91

5 Reverend Pungula Wellington Dingani. Leadership in the Corinthian Church in Phepheni Marcel Barnard Ian Nell Henry Mbaya 113

6 Sunday worship in Phepheni. A descriptive exploration Cas Wepener Henry Mbaya Marcel Barnard 133

7 Eating and drinking. Measurements and recipies for social capital Cas Wepener 159

8 To be healed, and (re)connected. The wonder of water Cas Wepener Bethel Müller† 179

9 Isitshisa. Appreciating a ritual sacrifice Henry Mbaya 193

10 Belief, behaviour and belonging. The changing ritual of preaching and worship Bethel Müller † Cas Wepener 209

III Wider Reflections

11 Rituals and social capital in the book of Leviticus? Esias Meyer 231

12 Rituals of death among the Northern Sotho people and the Zion Christian Church of Limpopo Province Selaelo Thias Kgatla 247

13 The new lens. Challenging the policy makers Marthie Momberg 263

14 The new lens. An African Christian's religious critique Abamfo Atiemo 283

Concluding word. A ritual lens on social capital Cas Wepener Ignatius Swart 301

List of figures 305

Index of subjects 307

Bibliography 315

On the authors 333

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