Selling with the Word of God: Ghana's New Christianity and the Ethos of Business

Authors

Richard Kafui Wuaku, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

Religious Studies

First Advisor's Name

Albert Wuaku

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Erik Larson

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Iqbal Akhtar

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Religion, Pentecostalism, Business, Christianity, Ghana

Date of Defense

11-9-2023

Abstract

Many people in Africa have raised concerns recently about the rapid growth and development of Pentecostalism and its dabbling in activities that can hardly be described as religious. In Ghana, it would be accurate for one to see Pentecostalism as not only a religious form but also a form of business. Pentecostal agents in Ghana skillfully manipulate religious capital in the pursuit of their business interests and goals. Unfortunately, few scholars researching religion in Africa focus on this link between religion and business. In this study, I explore this nexus. I argue that Pentecostalism and its symbols, that is, the teachings, ritual forms, worshippers, and their related practices, constitute a form of capital and has become a basis for socio-economic activities. To demonstrate this argument, I explored some levels on which Ghanaian Pentecostalism demonstrates its potential as a business practice. I explored Itinerant Pentecostalism as a Private business. I looked extensively into the activities of private preachers who preach to categories of people in public spaces. I also discussed the business activities of pastors who own and lead Pentecostal churches. I demonstrate how these pastors emphasize prosperity, and how they raise money in church to invest in other businesses, using church members as their main clientele base (market). Then, I use my discussion of how the idea of wealth is perceived within Ghana’s Pentecostalism to demonstrate how the prosperity gospel narrative functions as a modern-day business ethic in Ghana. In doing so I establish the relationship between religion and the ethos of business in contemporary Ghana. Pentecostalism has become such a basis of socio-economic activities that we can even venture and confidently suggest that the Pentecostal churches in Ghana are simply doing business.

The study concludes that this Ghanaian case is not unique. Pentecostalism is business in many other African communities. This development is not solely a result of the socio-economic hardships many people face in Africa currently, but also, a product of the pervasive influence of spirituality in Africa. In Africa, spirituality is a readily available resource to address socio-economic questions.

Identifier

FIDC011225

Recommended Citation

Wuaku, Richard Kafui, "Selling with the Word of God: Ghana's New Christianity and the Ethos of Business" (2023). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5391.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5391