Abstract

MWALE, Nelly  and  CHITA, Joseph. Religious pluralism and disability in Zambia: approaches and healing in selected Pentecostal churches. Studia Hist. Ecc. [online]. 2016, vol.42, n.2, pp.53-71. ISSN 2412-4265.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2412-4265/2016/622.

Zambia has recently witnessed the growth of Pentecostal churches that publicly make the claim of being able to heal disabilities. This paper explores how some Pentecostal churches in Zambia's pluralist society claim to be healing disability. Interviews, documents and video recordings from three different Pentecostal ministries depicting healing and disability, were analysed. The paper observes that some Pentecostal ministries exemplify disability as that which could be healed through the work of the Holy Spirit; and disability is attributed to the work of the devil. The paper argues that these disability healing messages and miracles indirectly victimise people with disabilities, despite their potential to offer social capital. This has created a need for deconstructing views on disability. Disability issues in the church also have to go beyond healing and miracles, to appreciating the contributions that people with disabilities can make to the body of Christ.

Keywords : Zambia; disability; healing; Pentecostal; people with disabilities; religious pluralism.

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