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Esther Acolatse
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For Freedom or Bondage?: A Critique of African Pastoral Practices Paperback – March 6, 2014

by Esther E. Acolatse (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 3 ratings
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In Ghana today, many people who suffer from a variety of human ills wander from one pastor to another in search of a spiritual cure. Because of the way cultural beliefs about the spiritual world have interwoven with their Christian faith, many Ghanaian Christians live in bondage to their fears of evil spiritual powers, seeing Jesus as a superior power to use against these malevolent spiritual forces.

In For Freedom or Bondage? Esther Acolatse argues that Christian pastoral practices in many African churches include too much influence from African traditional religions. She examines Ghana Independent Charismatic churches as a case study, offering theological and psychological analysis of current pastoral care practices through the lenses of Barth and Jung. Facilitating a three-strand conversation between African traditional religion, Barthian theology, and Jungian analytical psychology, Acolatse interrogates problematic cultural narratives and offers a more nuanced approach to pastoral care.
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  1. Print length
    233 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
  4. Publication date
    March 6, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.59 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0802869890
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0802869890
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Emmanuel Y. Lartey
--Candler School of Theology, Emory University
"In this thoughtful, carefully researched, and much-needed book Esther Acolatse enters into critical engagement with African Christian pastoral practices, especially 'deliverance' ministries. . . . Her robust theoretical and practical approach, illustrated with actual contextual cases, avoids the dangers of over-spiritualization, under-psychologizing, and cultural irrelevance, which have marred effective care of souls in contemporary African cultures. For Freedom or Bondage? scratches exactly where African Christians currently itch. It should be required reading for all who have pastoral and educational responsibilities for persons influenced by African cultures."

Andrew F. Walls
--Liverpool Hope University, Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Ghana
"This is an important book. With the increasing significance of Africa within contemporary Christianity, new and urgent theological issues are arising for pastoral practice as African understandings of the spirit world interact with the biblical materials and traditional Christian practice. Acolatse is beginning a much-needed conversation between African and Western theologians, with huge pastoral implications."

Amos Yong
--Regent University School of Divinity
"Acolatse's proposals provide a holistic and dialogical model for pastoral care, one that engages with the ecumenical tradition and is informed by interdisciplinary analyses, while also expertly reappropriating global South perspectives, sensibilities, and cosmologies. May an increasingly Pentecostal and charismatic world Christianity take heed."

-- Peter J. Paris in Theology Today
“Acolatse has written a very important book for both teachers and practitioners of pastoral care who work primarily in her native Ghana as well as throughout Africa. . . . Acolatse's methodology of interviewing 50 pastors is impressive to say the least, as is the clarity with which she describes the African worldview. . . . In brief, this book will enrich the thinking of all who read it.”

Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses
“This book will stand as a milestone in pastoral theology in Africa. . . . A major resource to scholars, pastors and Christian counselors not only within evangelical charismatic churches but also to those studying and practicing charismatic healing in mainstream traditional churches in Africa.”
 
Theology Today
“Professor Esther Acolatse has written a very important book for both teachers and practitioners of pastoral care who work primarily in her native Chana as well as throughout Africa. . . . Acolatse’s methodology of interviewing 50 pastors is impressive to say the least, as is the clarity with which she describes the African worldview. . . . In brief, this book will enrich the thinking of all who read it.”
 

About the Author

 

Esther E. Acolatse is professor of pastoral theology and intercultural studies at Knox College, University of Toronto, where she also serves as director of graduate studies. Her other books include For Freedom or Bondage? A Critique of African Pastoral Practices.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (March 6, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 233 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802869890
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802869890
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.59 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 3 ratings

About the author

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Esther Acolatse

Esther Acolatse

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Rev. Prof. Esther E. Acolatse, (Ph. D Princeton Seminary) is Professor of Pastoral Theology and World Christianity at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She was most recently, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Intercultural Studies at Knox College, the University of Toronto and had taught at Duke Divinity School for many years, before that. Her current research explores the intersection of Psychology and Christian thought, with interests in gender and the experience of Christianity, methodological issues in the practice of theology of the Christian life, and the relevance of these themes in the global expression of Christianity. She was born and raised in Accra, Ghana.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
3 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Thembi
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for a curious contemporary African Christian
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
I highly recommend this book, especially if you are African and know very little about African Spirituality.
This will be such a helpful companion for apologetics. But most importantly, facilitate a clearer understanding of how to be both Christian and African.
I hope Dr. Acolatse continues her refreshing, well needed and balanced authorship for the edification of African believers.
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James Boateng
4.0 out of 5 stars No bad comment.
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2015
Verified Purchase
Same as described. No bad comment.
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