Overcoming fear? A search for an empowering theological response to the fear of witchcraft among urban Zimbabwean Christians

Abstract

How can we make theological sense of the resilience of the fear of witchcraft among indigenous Zimbabwean Christians? From the perspective of the transcendence and immanence of God, this article analyses the resilience of the fear of witchcraft among African Christians in Zimbabwe. The article uses results of a case study conducted in Zimbabwe in a congregation belonging to the Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe (COCZ) in the city of Bulawayo. Using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, the study affirms that many African Christians struggle to overcome the fear of witchcraft in their lives. Witchcraft is feared because it is primarily viewed as an evil power that destroys life. The article analyses the awareness of witchcraft, the experiences of witchcraft and the responses to witchcraft among Zimbabwean Christians. The article proposes that African Christians be grounded on the transcendence and immanence of God as a way of overcoming the enduring fear of witchcraft.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: A meaningful response to the fear of witchcraft in Africa requires a multidisciplinary approach including phenomenology of religion, Christian doctrines and practical theology and pastoral care. The immanence and transcendency of God in a context of fear of witchcraft must be unpacked in the light of insights from phenomenology of religion, African traditional religions, discipleship and pastoral care.

The lived experiences of elderly women accused of witchcraft in a rural community in South Africa

“…The accusation that witchcraft is born out of jealousy cuts across the society, including both ordinary and leadership [36,37]. President Mugabe publicly accused his former deputies Joyce Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa of using witchcraft to succeed him as president [38].…”

Postmodernism, identity and mission continuity in the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe

“…The very burial of Cecil J. Rhodes at Matonjecni was in anticipation of the priestly, prophetic and kingly role acquired for the worship of Mwari. Colonialists further enacted the 1899 Witchcraft Suppression Act (Banda & Masengwe 2018) to forestall the God-human-nature relationship among the people. The COCZ thus can do itself a favour by interrogating chiefs and headmen on spirit-human-land relationships.…”

3. A Soteriological Response to the Congolese Pastors' Engagement with Children Accused of Being Witches

“…The increasing incidents of accusations of Satanism show the influential role of Christianity in both shaping people's ideas about witchcraft and also giving momentum to the belief in children witches. While conducting research on the fear of witchcraft among Christians (Banda and Masengwe 2018), we encountered a father who reported that his daughter, studying at a Christian secondary school, had expressed intense fears of fellow students who mysteriously 'stole' other students' intelligence causing them to fail their exams.…”