Christian Zionism in Africa: divine interfaces and political authority in times of epistemological uncertainty

Journal article

In recent years, a growing number of African born-again Christian groups have come to uphold and promote Christian Zionist theologies that emphasise the unique role of the Jewish people and the State of Israel in divine history and call on believers to support them in order to be blessed, in return, by God. This essay interrogates the spiritual and political implications of this development, which has thus far been overlooked both by scholars of Christian Zionism and by scholars of African born-again Christianity. As bornagain movements more broadly, it is argued, Christian Zionism engages with the epistemological uncertainties that characterise everyday life in many parts of Africa today, featuring a strong emphasis on individual truth-seeking as well as biblical and divine authenticity. At the same time, because Christian Zionism is underpinned by powerful assumptions regarding the biblical referentiality of the Jewish people and the modern State of Israel, and positions these as divine interfaces, it also informs the ways in which believers think about and engage with ethnic identities and state authority.

Authors: Gidron, Y

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Centre for African Studies, Uganda Martyrs University
• Journal: Mtafiti Mwafrika
• Volume: 33
• Publication date: 2022-11-10
• Acceptance date: 2022-10-24
• ISSN: 1607-0011
• Language: English
• Keywords: Christian Zionism; born-again Christianity; FFR; material religion; Israel in Africa; political theology