E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS) ISSN – Online 2720-7722 | Print 2821-8949 Volume 4 Issue 11 November 2023 pp 1356 -1367 Available online at: https://noyam.org/journals/ehass/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20234114
A Critique of Prosperity Theology in the Context of Ghanaian Christianity Isaac Boaheng1
, Clement Amoako2 and Samuel Boahen3
1
Senior Lecturer in Christian Theology and Ethics, Christian Service University College, Ghana; Research Fellow University of the Free State, South Africa. 2 Christian Service University College, Ghana. 3 All Nations University, Ghana
ABSTRACT Progression Policy is an intervention strategy to decrease unnecessary, high The School economic situation in contemporary Ghana makes everyone yearn for economic progress. dropout rates the South Education system. It allows learners to movethefrom In Ghana, likeinmany other African parts of Africa, religion is responsible for providing economic, one gradeand to health anotherneeds and thus in The theirpredominantly careers and exit the basic education spiritual, of itsadvance adherents. Christian population in Ghana school system with a qualification. However, due to this intervention, some learners makes many people look up to Christianity to provide the road map to the country’s success. have and emotional problems at school, which may affect their well- health In thisexperienced regard, the social prosperity theology/gospel is the most dominant approach to seeking being. This study explored the effects of the School Progression Policy on theprompts and wealth among Ghanaian Christians. Though very persuasive, prosperity theology progressed Grade 12 learners’ well-being in schools. It socio-economic adopted a qualitative so much debate about its influence on the religious and life ofresearch Christians and methodology a constructivist and usedasapromoting case studyunethical research design. the society at within large. On the one hand,paradigm it is considered behaviour and Thirty-seven learners (23 females males) andOn fifteen and itSMTs were failing to yield qualitative growthand for14the church. the teachers other hand, is considered as purposively selected from four schools in the Motheo Education District. Semiattracting a large following to the Christian faith. The need to evaluate the impact of this type structured weretheological employed for collection. Thematic results of teachinginterviews is an urgent anddata pastoral concern because it is revealed the mostthat appealing this policy implementation positively and negatively affected progressed Grade Christians. 12 Christian approach to socio-economic breakthrough for contemporary Ghanaian learners’ well-being. study constant and motivation This paper, therefore,This sought to recommended address the problem of empowerment the lack of a balanced assessment of for the progressed learners andits comprehensive orientation at theThe beginning the year the prosperity gospel and how weaknesses can be addressed. study isofa literature-based to preparethat andgathered capacitate handle the expectations and challenges of Grade 12. analysis research datathem fromtopublications on the subject matter. Through a critical and evaluation of the information gathered, the authors evaluated the overall impact of the prosperity theology on the holistic life (social, spiritual, economic and political) of its adherents and having noted some pitfalls, recommended how this popular theology can be refined. Apart from providing guidelines for addressing the challenges associated with the prosperity theology, the paper also has the potential of yielding ethical renewal for people to live responsibly as they work toward improving their socio-economic and spiritual lives.
Correspondence Clement Amoako Email: amocle44@gmail.com Publication History Received 20th July, 2023 Accepted 19th September, 2023 Published online: 10th November, 2023
Keywords: Prosperity, Christianity, Ghana, Salvation
INTRODUCTION Richard J. Foster profoundly asserts that one of the major prevailing perversions of the Christian faith promoted by the prosperity gospel is
…that one of the signs of God’s blessing is the possession of money, and hence poverty therefore becomes a sign that demonstrates God’s displeasure. This has been interpreted to mean a religion of prosperity and personal peace: crudely stated, “Love Jesus and get rich.” A lot of believers and churches are soaked with constant knacks for blessedness, all the way from exact mathematical formulas (God will bless you sevenfold) to much more subtle but equally destructive forms.1
Foster’s assertion underscores the flirtation of prosperity preachers with the idol of mammon. He points to the flawed perspective that a person’s worth depends on how much wealth he/she possesses. This kind of theology is very influential in Ghanaian Christianity today. Prosperity theology has contagiously spread through almost all
1 Richard J. Foster, Money, Sex & Power: The Spiritual Disciplines of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience (Toronto: Hodder & Stoughton, 1985),
24-25. © 2023 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).