This study examines the role of Christianity in Liberia under the corrupt regime of Samuel K. Doe (1980-1990). Paul Gifford shows that, in general, Liberian Christianity--far from being a force for justice and human advancement--diverted attention from the cause of Liberia's ills, left change to God's miraculous intervention, encouraged obedience and acceptance of the status quo, and thus served to entrench Doe's power. This Christianity, devised in and controlled from the United States, thus furthered regional American economic and political objectives, which were designed to support Doe's rule.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...a must for all interested in African Christianty and politics and their interplay wth American Christianity and politics. Not only is this a representative case study but also a very wide-ranging one....To Paul Gifford and Cambridge University Press, a thousand thanks." Jan H. Boer, Calvin Theological Journal
"...a chilling but vivid analysis of the role of the Christian church in Liberia....Overall this is an absorbing book, based on personal experience and a wide range of sources. It is, also, to say the least, contentious, particularly with regard to the strictures on American evangelists, past and present. Undoubtedly, this book is certainly bound to generate spirited debate in some circles." Felix K. Ekechi, African Studies Review
"...a welcome addition to the literature on Liberia." D. Elwood Dunn, Journal of Church and State
"It is well written, clearly argued, and provides a very useful case study of African Christianity since the Pentecostal explosion." - American Historical Review
"...a chilling but vivid analysis of the role of the Christian church in Liberia....Overall this is an absorbing book, based on personal experience and a wide range of sources. It is, also, to say the least, contentious, particularly with regard to the strictures on American evangelists, past and present. Undoubtedly, this book is certainly bound to generate spirited debate in some circles." Felix K. Ekechi, African Studies Review
"...a welcome addition to the literature on Liberia." D. Elwood Dunn, Journal of Church and State
"It is well written, clearly argued, and provides a very useful case study of African Christianity since the Pentecostal explosion." - American Historical Review
Book Description
This study examines the role of Christianity in Liberia under the corrupt rule of Samuel K. Doe (1980-90). Paul Gifford argues that the Church encouraged obedience and acceptance of the status quo and thus served to entrench Doe's power and promote US objectives in the region.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well-researched,
By Bill (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Christianity and Politics in Doe's Liberia (Cambridge Studies in Ideology and Religion) (Paperback)
The author vividly captures some of the social ills which characterized the autocratic regime of Samuel Doe which eventually led to the bloodbath which decimated Liberia. An excellent read for anyone who wishes to understand the collusion between the African Christian church and some autocratic regimes in Africa.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Liberia is a small country of 43,000 square miles (111,369 sq. km.) situated at the south-western point of West Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone to the north-west, the Ivory Coast to the east, and Guinea to the north. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
fission dynamics, pentecostal explosion, colonisation society, faith movement, independent churches, mainline churches, prosperity gospel, rice shortages Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Daily Observer, Latin America, West Africa, Billy Graham, United States, Don Stewart, Oxford University Press, South Africa, Jesus Christ, New York, Archbishop Francis, Church of the Lord, Sierra Leone, Liberian Christianity, Assemblies of God, African Christianity, Bishop Marwieh, Doe's Liberia, Grand Rapids, Methodist Church, Daiy Observer, Promise Betrayed, Archbishop Browne, Garden City, Living Water Teaching New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Liberia is a small country of 43,000 square miles (111,369 sq. km.) situated at the south-western point of West Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone to the north-west, the Ivory Coast to the east, and Guinea to the north. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
fission dynamics, pentecostal explosion, colonisation society, faith movement, independent churches, mainline churches, prosperity gospel, rice shortages Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Daily Observer, Latin America, West Africa, Billy Graham, United States, Don Stewart, Oxford University Press, South Africa, Jesus Christ, New York, Archbishop Francis, Church of the Lord, Sierra Leone, Liberian Christianity, Assemblies of God, African Christianity, Bishop Marwieh, Doe's Liberia, Grand Rapids, Methodist Church, Daiy Observer, Promise Betrayed, Archbishop Browne, Garden City, Living Water Teaching New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
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7
books
cite this book:
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- African Catholicism: Essays in Discovery by Adrian Hastings on 5 pages
- Estrangement: America and the World by Sanford J. Ungar on 5 pages
- The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey on 4 pages
- Piety and Politics by D. C.) Ethics and Public Policy Center (Washington on 4 pages
- The Age of Uncertainty by John Kenneth Galbraith on 4 pages
See all 100 books this book cites
- Exporting the American Gospel: Global Christian Fundamentalism by Steve Brouwer in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Exporting the American Gospel: Global Christian Fundamentalism by Steve Brouwer in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Blackwell Companion to Protestantism (Wiley-Blackwell Companions to Religion) by Alister E. McGrath on page 450, and page 481
- Evangelicals and Politics in Asia, Africa and Latin America by Paul Freston in Back Matter
- The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins in Back Matter
See all 7 books citing this book
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