Engaging Modernity: Methods and Cases for Studying African Independent Churches in South Africa

(Hardback)

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The key theme addressed by all the contributors to this book is the relationship between South Africa's indigenous churches (AICs) to modernity. The key question asked by each of the contributors is to what extent, if any, do AICs serve as bridges to tradition or as facilitators for modernizing practices Although the researchers do not agree on the answer to this questionsome argue for the return to tradition, others argue for the facilitation perspectivethey do provide provocative and timely insights for prospective researchers interested in exploring concepts and methodologies for understanding modernity and modernization. Based on a number of case studies of AICs in South Africa, this book will also be of great interest to scholars of comparative religion and the role churches play in negotiating the complex terrains of politics, society, and economy in this era of globalization.

Reviews

.,."Beyond illustrating how contrasting perspectives on AIC yield distinctive insights, the central contribution of this volume is to cast important light on some of the many ways in which these syncretistic churches--linking tradition with modernity--help us to understand the vital sociological phenomena of modernization and globalization."-George J. McCall, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri-St. Louis
.,."Venter introduces and assembles a number of crisply written essays discussing elegantly and in depth a number of contemporary substantial and methodological problems on religion in Southern Africa. I enthusiastically welcome and highly recommend this volume to a wide readership of Africanists and an audience interested in recent developments in the field of religion in Africa."-Gerhard Schutte, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
"[A]ptly demonstrates how shallow-based many existing theories on African Independent Churches have been and still is....It poses a significant challenge to uncritical conceptualisations and helps in revamping the interesting dynamics and complexities of this religious phenomenon that many scholars and commentators have often glossed over...."-Afe Adogame, Senior Fellow, Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University
"Dawid Venter and his three research colleagues have done the academic study of African Independentism an enormous favour in the production of this timely and well-structured book. This useful study deals with methodological approaches to the study of African Independent Churches (AICs) in South Africa, and as such is a valuable tool for anyone wanting to engage in empirical research and indeed, those who are already engaged in such research....The authors are to be congratulated for this stimulating and innovative study."-Allan Anderson, University of Birmingham
"This is a fascinating book that takes the study of African Independent/Indigenous Churches (AICs) into a new phase....I strongly recommend this book and commend its authors for breaking new ground."-Irving Hexham, Department of Religious Studies, University of Calgary
"[A] fine selection of research resources."-African Affairs
[A] fine selection of research resources.- African Affairs
[A] fine selection of research resources.-African Affairs
[A] fine selection of research resources.African Affairs
"A fine selection of research resources."-African Affairs

Author Bio

DAWID J. VENTER is Adjunct Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. An assistant editor of the official South African journal of sociology, Venter has concentrated on the intersections of religion, politics, and the global system. He holds a Ph.D in religion (l994) and a Ph.D in sociology (l999), both from the University of Stellenbosch.