Prophecy and Politics in South African Pentecostalism

“Solomon Kgatle offers an engaging and expansive theologization of the politics in South Africa. He explores political theology through the innovative lens of prophecy, the connection between leading prophets and powerful politicians, and the nexus between the prophetic imagination and political practices. This book provides a rigorous theoretical framework for crafting political theology in the global Pentecostal movement. It is, indeed, a brilliant book on Pentecostal political theology of prophecy.” ­—Nimi Wariboko, Walter G. Muelder, Boston University, Boston, USA 'Prophecy and Politics in South African Pentecostalism' represents an important new development in Pentecostal studies. Dr Solomon's bold text outlines a postcolonial political theology that harnesses the emotive power of Pentecostalism in order to provide theological resources for a counter hegemonic, anti imperialist and more egalitarian South Africa. This is a must read. —Anthony G. Reddie, University of Oxford. Oxford, UK This book is an interdisciplinary study of the relationship between prophecy and politics in South African Pentecostalism. The role and the power of prophecy in enhancing the presence of politicians in the church square are unpacked through historical examples, as well as case studies of contemporary prophets. Solomon Kgatle argues that the influence of prophecy in politics has the potential to weaken the prophetic voice of the church in general and the Pentecostal movement in particular. He proposes a Pentecostal political theology of prophecy. This theology is developed by taking into cognizance the theoretical and theological frameworks of prophetic imagination and pneumatological imagination. In addition, this theology seeks a balance between prophecy and power and prophecy and sovereignty. Mookgo Solomon Kgatle is a Professor at the Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South Africa, and a National Research Foundation (NRF) Y-Rated researcher (2019-2024) in African Pentecostalism. He has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles and 6 books in the same field. He is the founding President of the Southern African Society for Pentecostal Studies.