Abstract
This chapter deals with the African world of spirits and their pervasiveness, where the focus is on the disembodied spirits (both good and evil) of African religions. This chapter discusses how questions of evil and suffering are addressed in this spirit-filled world. “African” afflictions caused by curses and witchcraft, for which there is no medical solution, and how Pentecostals deal with this, are examined. This chapter illustrates how traditional beliefs about these spirits still continue. Some forms of Pentecostalism adapt traditional practices in their church liturgies, and these practices are transformed with new meaning and purpose in order to overcome evil powers. How ideas of the “prosperity gospel” fit into the spirit world is finally addressed.
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Anderson, A.H. (2018). Witchcraft, Spirits, and Misfortune. In: Spirit-Filled World. Christianity and Renewal - Interdisciplinary Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73730-0_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73730-0_5
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Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73729-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73730-0
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