A Theological Reflection on the Phenomenon of Fetish Practices, Invocations and use of Items in Modern African Church Services; Implication for the Present and Future

ISSUE: Vol.5  No.3 September 2019 Article 6  pp.50-58
AUTHOR: Edward Agboada
DOI : 10.32051/09301906

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ABSTRACT

In recent times, there seem to be a rising trend in modern Christian churches especially in Africa concerning the use of items (amulets, totems), invocations and practices which for many years were considered the reserve of African indigenous religions. The question however is, what biblical, theological or religious teachings forms the basis for these practices especially during prayer services and how consistent are these practices with the general teaching of the bible. This article seeks to explore the phenomenon by analysing the facts and trends to decipher influences and implications for the present and future of Christianity in Africa and beyond.

Keywords: Church, Worship, Prayer, Fetish, Invocations, biblical, social, cultural, political, religious, Traditional.

EDWARD AGBOADA is an Ordained Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. He holds a CIM, Dip. Th., BD. (TTS), MPhil (KNUST) and MEd (Educational Studies) PUC. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Ramseyer Training Centre, (Abetifi) where he teaches courses in World Religions, Islamic Studies, Christian-Muslim Relations, Interfaith Dialogue, Cross-Cultural Missions, New Religious Movements, Homiletic, and Studies in African Traditional Religions. Email: agboadaedwards@gmail.com

Agboada, Edward. “A Theological Reflection on the Phenomenon of Fetish Practices, Invocations and Use of Items in Modern African Church Services; Implication or the Present and Future.” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies 5, no.3 (2019), 50-58. https://doi.org/10.32051/09301906

© 2020 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).