Prosperity gospel and adherent social mobility in Ghana

B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion

Mbillah, Charity Lamisi ; Rew, Martin,Leurs, Robert

University:University of Birmingham

Department:School of Government and Society, Department of International Development

关键词: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion;    BL Religion;   

Others  :  http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/8552/1/Mbillah18PhD.pdf

来源: University of Birmingham eTheses Repository

【 摘 要 】

In Ghana Neo-charismatic Churches are non-denominational mainly indigenously founded churches that propagate the Prosperity Gospel to their followers. Drawing on a symbolic interaction framework this study explores adherent (church member) perspectives on how they construct the link between the Prosperity Gospel and their own prosperity (social mobility). Symbolic interaction concepts of symbols, meanings and reflected appraisals are employed in the analysis. In all six symbolic categories: the mainstream, automatic, transcendent, pragmatic, founding father and member networks plus fifteen symbolic constructions arising from these categories are identified. These symbolic categories and constructions are employed in the meanings that adherents attribute to social mobility, the actions that they engage in and in the formation of their self-concepts through reflected appraisals. The analysis shows that these categories and constructions inform adherent attitudes and actions towards social mobility.