“Thank God for Amazon.com”: Spiritual Warfare, African Theology, and Prayer Merch
Adelakun AA (2022)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2022
Journal
Book Volume: 12
Pages Range: 280-302
Journal Issue: 2
DOI: 10.5325/jworlchri.12.2.0280
Abstract
This essay explores the ongoing formations of global Pentecostalism by tracing a route through which some of the practices of exchange travel: Amazon.com. Noting that the “spirits” of globalization, modernity, and capitalism now enable a rapid move of the religious spirit, I spotlight the experiences of four Nigerian ministers who list merchandise of prayer (or “prayer merch”) in the form of books and spiritual warfare prayer manuals for sale on the online marketplace. With personal interviews and a content analysis of the reviews and ratings of their works, I consider the commodification of the practical African theology of prayers, the tactics of promotion, the ethos of Black spirituality that facilitates sales, and the balancing of divine encounter and enterprise.
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APA:
Adelakun, A.A. (2022). “Thank God for Amazon.com”: Spiritual Warfare, African Theology, and Prayer Merch. Journal of World Christianity, 12(2), 280-302. https://doi.org/10.5325/jworlchri.12.2.0280
MLA:
Adelakun, Abimbola A.. "“Thank God for Amazon.com”: Spiritual Warfare, African Theology, and Prayer Merch." Journal of World Christianity 12.2 (2022): 280-302.
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