PENTECOSTALISM, ARMED CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE IN AFRICA

Abstract

This article critically examines the relationship between Pentecostalism, violence, and armed conflict in Africa. Pentecostal Christianity has often been associated with spiritual renewal, moral transformation, and socio-economic empowerment. Despite growing scholarly interest in religion and conflict in Africa, much of the existing literature has focused on extremist movements, ethnic violence or interreligious clashes, often overlooking the nuanced roles of Pentecostal actors and ideologies. This polarized framing creates a significant gap in understanding how Pentecostal beliefs and practices may both mitigate and exacerbate violence within contexts of armed conflict. Therefore, this study seeks to address this gap and provide a more balanced and contextualize grounded analysis of its roles and implications. It explores how certain theological emphases, such as spiritual warfare, prosperity teachings, and apocalyptic rhetoric, may inadvertently reinforce polarizing identities. Employing a critical interdisciplinary framework that integrates religious studies, political theology, and conflict theory, the article argues that Pentecostalism in Africa cannot be simplistically categorized as either a driver of violence or an agent of peace. Rather, its role is contingent upon socio-political context, leadership structures, media usage, and state-church relations. The study concludes by proposing a nuanced paradigm for understanding the ambivalent public role of Pentecostalism in conflict-prone African societies.