Pentecostal Praise and Worship as a Mode of Theology

Abstract

This chapter presents ethnography as a fruitful partner to theology in the study of the lived faith of African Pentecostal believers. The first part of the article has a theoretical approach, discussing the nature, modes, and methods of theology, arguing that the interactive and multi-modal nature of theology and the charismatization of contemporary Christianity require us to search for new methods in theology, and presenting ethnography as a viable choice. The second part of the chapter is empirically based, presenting results from the author’s research on praise and worship in the Woodley branch of the Christ Is The Answer Ministries (citam, a Pentecostal church consisting of over 20 semi-autonomous branches) in Nairobi, Kenya. This part illustrates how a theologian may combine ethnographic research methods with theological research questions in order to gain new knowledge based on the lived faith of a local church. (Less)