Regardless of one’s moral stance toward Prosperity theology, its global impact cannot be dismissed as it continues to grow in influence, including within centers of political power, writes Simon Coleman (University of Toronto) in the bulletin of the Observatoire International du Religieux (April). A cultural logic of material and institutional growth is central to Prosperity theology, with a constant emphasis on expansion, crowd sizes, and financial accumulation. The movement blurs boundaries between religious and business practices, creating hybrid forms that celebrate both spiritual and material success. As Prosperity teachings spread globally, they take on local characteristics and adaptations, from the “limited prosperity” in economically challenged regions to other variations influenced by local cultural understandings. The movement has grown beyond purely religious domains to exercise political influence in several countries. While American roots remain influential, Prosperity networks now flow in multiple directions, including South-to-South connections, not just North-to-South.
Such flows range from the Brazilian Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, with its Lusophone sphere of influence comprising more than 100 countries, to the Harvest Ministry, an independent Fijian Pentecostal church. Harvest “articulates its own vision for reaching out to the world, including fields ranging from Papua New Guinea (proximate) to East Africa (distant),” while pushing together “the saving of souls by Fijian missionaries and the opening up of markets for Fijian businesses.” The Prosperity Gospel, with its “seed faith” doctrine, promotes a positive, agentive spiritual self, promising material and health benefits through giving. This has resonated with working- and middle-class adherents. The movement’s adaptability and appeal lie in its ability to inspire hope and agency in diverse contexts.
(Bulletin of the Observatoire International du Religieux, https://obsreligion.cnrs.fr/bulletin/between-spirituality-and-speculation-materiality-mobility-and-prosperity-in-pentecostal-networks-english-version/)
