Postmodernism and the Hermeneutics of Nigerian Pentecostalism: Implications for Class Mobility
22 Pages Posted: 28 Aug 2017
Date Written: April 29, 2014
Abstract
This paper explores the impact of postmodernism on the hermeneutics of Nigerian Pentecostalism. It argues that the attempt of Pentecostals to employ the lure of social mobility as a strategy for church growth and economic development has compelled a compromise of the meta-narrative and objective truth in the cannon of Christian scripture. This compromise was effected through a contextual and broader postmodern world view which Pentecostals envisage will open their doors to larger crowds. This process has however ensured a clear path towards syncretism that may eventually label Pentecostalism as a plural Universalist brand of Christianity. Although such church growth strategies have positively impacted human economic development through the creation of potentials for social mobility, the moral integrity of the movement seems to have been compromised. With the present state of affairs the paper concludes that the possibility of new reformist movements emerging from Pentecostals is very likely in the light of Church history.
Keywords: Pentecostalism, Postmodernism, Hermeneutics, Social Mobility, Prosperity
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