Christianity, Wealth, and Spiritual Power in Ghana

Karen Lauterbach is Associate Professor at the Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

“By contributing this significant case study to a wider literature on Christian practice across Africa – and, indeed, the anthropology of Christianity – Lauterbach also illuminates an important dynamic in the spread of charismatic Christianity beyond Africa. … Lauterbach’s book will appeal not only to scholars and students of Africa and African Christianity but also to those interested in global or extra-European Christianity. … this book is required reading for scholars interested in the day-to-day lives, ambitions and experiences of African Christians.” (Insa Nolte, Africa, Vol. 88 (4), 2018)“Lauterbach’s Christianity, Wealth, and Spiritual Power in Ghana, provides us with a refreshing look at what has been described as Ghana’s ‘new Christianity.’ … it certainly does not shy away from foregrounding why Kumasi and Asante notions of wealth, power and status are essential to our understanding of charismatic Christianity in Ghana. … Karen Lauterbach’s book carefully considers how both historical and cultural continuity as well as Christian discontinuity matter.” (Girish Daswani, anthrocybib, blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk, July, 2017)

• 1. Introduction.- 2. A History of Wealth, Power, and Religion in Asante.- 3. Wealth and Worth – The Idea of a Truthful Pastor.- 4. The Craft of Pastorship.- 5. Performing Spiritual Power and Knowledge.- 6. The Politics of Becoming a Small ‘Big Man’.- 7. Conclusion.