Here be charlatans of faith

SOCIAL REASONS: MORAL AND STATE COLLAPSE LIE BEHIND THE PHENOMENON

Religious groups are often the only hope for the destitute and the hopeless.

South Africans, like millions of others across the world, are seriously susceptible to religious abuse. The local media has once again been abuzz with stories about manipulation and fraud by pastors.

The latest one, a fake resurrection, made headlines around the world. A video of Pastor Alph Lukau “raising a man from the dead” went viral and even sparked the #ResurrectionChallenge.

Why do South Africans fall for these religious snakeskin-oil salesmen (and women)?

One possible reason is that faith continues to play a very significant role in South Africa. In the last household survey, over 84% of South Africans indicated that they are Christians. And a 2010 Pew Report found that 74% said religion played an important role in their daily decisions, values and shaping of their morals.

In addition, churches and religious leaders enjoy higher levels of public trust in South African society than either the government or private sector. This is unlike many other modern democracies in the 21st century.

Some suggest that this susceptibility to religious belief is due to the moral and political failures of the state and politicians.

Religious leaders and institutions gain trust in situations where the population faces high levels of economic and social vulnerability, as is the daily reality for many South Africans. Religious groups are often the only sources of basic care and hope for many communities.

In situations like these, people look to “supernatural” means to solve basic problems.

Research in Brazil and Nigeria shows similar tendencies.

People are drawn to “prosperity gospel pastors” because they are offered the opportunity of getting out of poverty and becoming rich by means of God’s blessings. South Africans who are losing hope of gaining adequate employment, or dealing with rising debt, see the lavish lifestyles of pros- perity gospel pastors and regard this as highly appealing.

The message is that obedience and sacrificial giving (to the pastor and their church) is the road to wealth and survival.

Dion Forster is Professor in Ethics and Public Theology, Stellenbosch University. Republished from TheConversation.com