A prophet but not for profit: ethical value and character in Ghanaian Pentecostalism

Abstract

The anthropological study of value has gained much currency in recent years. This article speaks to the importance of Pentecostal practices in understanding the qualitative aspects of value in Ghana. It demonstrates how practices relating to wealth accumulation and redistribution are in interaction with ethical evaluations about the character of charismatic Christian prophets. The moral evaluation of wealth of certain prophets, and the links perceived between their use of wealth and their character, tell us something about the moral climate in contemporary Ghanaian society, where wealth cannot simply be measured quantitatively (through acquiring riches), but also ought to be assessed qualitatively (discerned through the quality of one's acts).

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals: An Analysis of the Potential Role of Philanthropy in Ghana

“…It is noteworthy that Christian giving is not only restricted to tithing and offering but also through the establishment of relief agencies including the Assemblies of God Relief Agency, ICGC’s Central Aid and Wesleyian Aid, with the objective of promoting the wellbeing of their members and the society at large. However, as some authors have argued, the show of solidarity by churches and their leaders is a legitimisation, image-saving and acceptability strategy because they have been criticised for greed for wealth and self-aggrandisement (Daswani, 2016; Okyerefo, 2011). For this reason, philanthropy by ‘new Ghanaian churches’ could be considered as strategic philanthropy by modelling themselves on the work undertaken by historic mission churches including the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian (Okyerefo, 2017).…”

Desagregando a mediação: tecnologias e atmosferas religiosas

“…Esse trabalho é fruto da graça, mas também de competências ético-espirituais adquiridas. O profeta destacou finalmente as contingências que interferem nesse processo, destacando que ele se dá em meio a "ruídos" normativos, especialmente agudos em Gana, onde o pentecostalismo tornou-se um movimento de massa marcado por vários níveis de devoção, polêmicas e uma pletora de "falsos profetas", o que requer constante reflexividade e discernimento (Daswani 2016).…”

Ordinary ethics and its temporalities: The Christian God and the 2016 Ghanaian elections

“…According to him, if God wanted to respond to humans, it would either be through the Bible or the mouth of the prophet. Now that Prince was a prophet of his own church, he wielded power and influence over the people who attended his services and had many more things to say about the moral character of Christian leaders in Ghana (Daswani, 2016).…”

“… 12 It has become essential to the success of Ghanaian prophets that they prove themselves to be “truthful” (Lauterbach, 2016: 85) and of good “character” (Daswani, 2016). …”