Signs of the times- thinking anew Christian nationalism in Zimbabwe

Sande, N. and Makamure, C. (2023) Signs of the times- thinking anew Christian nationalism in Zimbabwe. In: Manyonganise, M. (ed.) Religion and Health in a COVID-19 Context: Experiences from Zimbabwe. Series: Bible in Africa studies 36 - Exploring Religion in Africa 11. University of Bamberg Press, pp. 49-70. ISBN 9783863099114

Abstract

While the prevalence of modernity has altered religious ideologies in Zimbabwe, Christian proselytisation continues to grow. Religion and spirituality are distinctive traits providing meaning to the life of Zimbabweans. From an African Christian perspective, human life and all fundamental needs draw meaning from religious and spiritual convictions. Religion and spirituality permeate life's socio-political and economic issues. Although historically, there is an ambivalent relationship between church and state to solve the problems bedevilling Zimbabweans. However, the standstill of life in the world brought by the Coronavirus pandemic has opened new avenues for Christian nationalism. Through diverse conspiracy theories, Christian leaders have proffered explanations about the source, meaning, and solution(s) to the virus. A seemingly symbiotic relationship existed between the church and the state to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The church used coronavirus as ‘the signs of times’, which has created room to redefine the intersection of religion, politics, and health. Besides exploring the new forms of religiosity created by the church to stay relevant during the pandemic, this paper analyses how the church’s health solutions promote nationalism. This study used the de-secularization theory as a theoretical framework. The paper qualitatively analyses data from document analysis from social media, newspaper articles, news channels and text-based research. This paper concludes that the church’s adaption to Coronavirus through creating churches without walls, virtual worships, online giving and spiritual prophetic healing declarations not only show that religion in Zimbabwe is not declining but continuing to surge and build the nation

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sande, Dr Nomatter
• Authors: Sande, N., and Makamure, C.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Bible in Africa Studies
• Publisher: University of Bamberg Press
• ISSN: 2750-0179
• ISBN: 9783863099114

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