Religious Innovation and Competition in Contemporary African Christianity

ABSTRACT

This introductory essay lays out the main themes of a special issue of Journal of Contemporary African Studies which brings together six empirically grounded papers by African social scientists of different disciplinary backgrounds. These works touch on various aspects of the social impact of religious innovation and competition in present day African Christianity. They represent the first fruits on the social science side of an interdisciplinary initiative that made 23 research grants for theologians and social scientists to study Christianity and social change in contemporary Africa. These articles focus on a variety of dynamics in contemporary African religion (mostly Christianity), including gender, health and healing, social media, entrepreneurship, and inter-religious borrowing and accommodation. The editors conclude that the research and learning reflected in this volume will enhance understanding of religion’s vital entanglement in contemporary African society. The articles reveal problematic ethical and psychological dynamics in some of these new movements, particularly among some of the neo-Pentecostal groups. Yet the authors are determined to go beyond perspectives that are overly fixated with African problems and victimisation. They are keen to explore opportunities for understanding African agency and African wellsprings of hope. The editors conclude that scholars of religion and religiosity in Africa need to invest new conceptual and methodological energy in researching what it means to be actively religious in Africa today.     

Death in the desert. The sabotage-derailment of "The City of San Francisco"

The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 was a milestone in American history. Seventy years later in August 1939, the westbound, new Southern Pacific Railroad streamlined passenger train "City of San Francisco," was intentionally derailed at high speed in northern Nevada by saboteurs who had moved a rail out of alignment. This resulted in a spectacular wreck, claiming the lives of 24 passengers and crew. Despite the finding of physical and trace evidence; and lengthy, exhaustive investigations by railroad police, the FBI, and forensic scientists, the perpetrators were never brought to justice. Deaths resulting from vandalism and sabotage are among the least common of railroad-related deaths; however, acts of vandalism and violence including train derailment are increasingly frequent in this country. Law enforcement officers and forensic scientists must be able to place these incidents in their proper perspective and to successfully investigate and solve them by employing all means at their disposal.     

Homicidal death following blunt trauma in a vulnerable host, with secondary infections including local tetanus

An uncommon type of homicide resulted from complications of an ordinarily nonfatal injury after a 59-year-old obese, hypertensive, diabetic man was struck in the face with a two-by-four, sustaining a grossly contaminated laceration. It was cleaned and sutured primarily, and a tetanus booster was given. On the fourth hospital day there was evidence of anerobic wound cellulitis, including Clostridium tetani. The wound was surgically debrided, but 2 days later the patient developed local tetanus. Only then was it discovered that he had never been immunized against tetanus. He did not develop systemic tetanus, but 2 days later he died with bronchopneumonia and sepsis. The assailant was indicted for involuntary manslaughter, but after a contentious trial he pleaded "no contest" to a reduced charge. The decedent was a vulnerable host, his contaminated facial laceration initiating an unbroken course of events that led to his death.