THE HEALER-PROPHET IN AFRO-CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

Table of Contents

Preface

Illustrations

Introduction

I. Background to this theme

A) Definition of the prophet

The prophet in the religions

B) The role of the prophet in the Old and New Testament

The calling to prophethood and the task of the prophet

Prophets in Christianity

C) The role of the prophet in the primitive Christian Church

Prophetic announcements

D) The African prophet (healer)

E) The need for contextual healing

F) A description of the survey on the Witwatersrand and in the Greater Durban area

II. The call of the AIC healer

A) Dreams

B) Illness

C) Visions and dreams

D) The role of the Holy Spirit and/or ancestors in the calling of a prophet

Called by ancestors only

Called by 'the Spirit' through an ancestor

Called by the Holy Spirit alone

E) Purification in order to qualify for prophethood

F) Status of the prophets

Distinction on the basis of gender

Distinction on the basis of age and experience

Distinction on the basis of gifts

The need for a prophet in the church

The prophet's position in the church

Prophets and marriage

G) Training

III. Healing methods of the prophet

Purity of the healer

A) Symbols (or means) of healing

Colour, vestments, cords, staves

Water (isiwasho)

Ashes, lime, salt, impepho, etc.

Holy time and holy place

Use of the Bible in healing sessions

Hospitals

B) Rites of healing

Diagnosis

Why does an illness happen?

Exorcism

Praying and dancing

Singing (hymns and choruses)

What do they sing?

Cleansing/expelling (bathing, steaming, vomiting, emetics)

Fasting

Symbols of protection (staves, cords, flags)

C) Powers of healing

Spirit versus spirits

God versus Satan

The Rand/Soweto, Greater Durban prophets and the metaphysical forces

Working through the ancestors under the Holy Spirit

Messages from the ancestors

Messages from the Holy Spirit

D) The healer's influence

Established churches and healing sessions

Treatment and remuneration

IV. Traditional African explanation and treatment of diseases

A) Physical ailments

B) Psychosomatic diseases

C) African cultural diseases (Ukufa KwaBantu)

D) Various other diseases mentioned by the respondents

V. The task of the prophet concerning demons, demon possession and evil spirits

A) Demons and possession

B) Witchcraft and sorcery

C) Witchcraft in the present situation

D) Women and their role concerning African-orientated diseases

E) Protection from sorcery

F) Reasons for being plagued by forces of evil

G) The role of traditional healers and western-trained doctors

H) Individual responsibility for misdeeds

I) The effects of witchcraft and attention given to the victim

VI. "Baptism" as a purification ritual in the AIC

A) A symbol of transcendence

B) Baptism in the Zionist context

C) Symbols in the African context

D) The idea of rebirth and the fullness of life

E) The development of baptism in ecclesiastical-historical perspective

F) Baptism outside the established churches

G) The opus operatum approach

H) Liturgical aspects

I) Consecrated water and baptism

J) Flags

K) Baptism at the Durban beach and its various connotations

VII. Diviner/Prophet parallel

A) How does the work of the prophet differ from that of the diviner?

B) Co-operation with diviners

C) Are there Christian diviners?

D) Originally called to be a diviner

E) Rituals undergone by a prophet in order to become a diviner

F) The acceptability of medicines used by diviners

G) Are the activities of a prophet only this-world orientated?

H) The blending of two worlds

How and why?

The Old Testament prophet and the AIC prophet

Is the indigenous church prophet a modernized diviner?

Why divination by some prophets? Why syncretism?

Preference for the prophet as a contextualiser

Bibliography

Index

STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN MISSION