Abstract
AbstractGiving a testimony forms a central part of the religious practices among Pentecostal churches including prophetic ministries. Testimony links the understanding of one’s religious experience and the configuration of the divine intervention. Utilizing data collected through ethnographic observation among prophetic ministries in Botswana and digital ethnography of the testimonial narratives circulated online through various new media outlets of these ministries, this paper examines the ways in which religious identity is constructed and understood through the testimonial performance in various religious services. Informed by the premise that narrative is closely related to identity, the paper pays particular attention to the extent to which religious testimonies influence the dynamic relationship between individual, communal and institutional religious identity. The following questions are central to the analysis: In what ways does a religious testimony inform us about the construction and negotiatio...
Highlights
Giving a religious testimony forms a central part of the religious practices among Pentecostal churches including prophetic ministries
Utilizing data collected through ethnographic observation of testimonies among prophetic ministries in Botswana and digital ethnography of the testimonial narratives circulated online through various new media outlets of these ministries, this paper examines the ways within which religious identity is constructed and understood through the testimony performance in various religious services
The following questions guide the analytical approach in this paper: In what ways does a religious testimony inform us about the construction and negotiation of religious identity? To what extent does a religious testimony influence the dynamic relationship between individual, communal and institutional religious identity? In an attempt to address these questions, I will first provide a background note on the prophetic Christianity in Botswana followed by a brief overview of the explanatory framework that shaped the analysis and methodology that regulated the study process
Summary
Giving a religious testimony forms a central part of the religious practices among Pentecostal churches including prophetic ministries. In an attempt to address these questions, I will first provide a background note on the prophetic Christianity in Botswana followed by a brief overview of the explanatory framework that shaped the analysis and methodology that regulated the study process This will provide a context for analyzing the phases of religious identity construction in the religious testimonial narratives as well as examining narratives of social relationship between an individual believer, other believers and the religious community embedded in the testimonies. Prophetic ministries in Botswana generally use websites, social media and social networking sites (Faimau & Behrens, 2016; Togarasei, 2012) Through these new media outlets, prophetic ministries provide information relating different religious practices, including the circulation of religious testimonies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
