Holy Hustlers, Schism, and Prophecy: Apostolic Reformation in Botswana

284 Pages·2011·4.46 MB·English

by  Richard Werbner

Holy Hustlers, Schism, and Prophecy
the anthropology of christianity
Edited by Joel Robbins
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2. Matthew Engelke, A Problem of Presence: Beyond Scripture in an
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3. David Smilde, Reason to Believe: Cultural Agency in Latin American
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6. William F. Hanks, Converting Words: Maya in the Age of the Cross
7. Kevin O’Neill, City of God: Christian Citizenship in Postwar
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8. F rederick Klaits, Death in a Church of Life: Moral Passion during
Botswana’s Time of AIDS
9. Chris Hann and Hermann Goltz, editors, Eastern Christians in
Anthropological Perspective
10. Allan Anderson, Michael Bergunder, Andre Droogers, and Cornelis van
der Laan, Studying Global Pentecostalism: Theories and Methods
11. Richard Werbner, Holy Hustlers, Schism, and Prophecy: Apostolic
Reformation in Botswana
12. Omri Elisha, Moral Ambition: Mobilization and Social Outreach in
Evangelical Megachurches
Holy Hustlers, Schism,
and Prophecy
Apostolic Reformation in Botswana
Richard Werbner
University of California Press
Berkeley Los Angeles London
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University of California Press
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© 2011 by The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Werbner, Richard P.
Holy hustlers, schism, and prophecy : Apostolic reformation in
Botswana / Richard Werbner.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0 -5 20- 26853- 1 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN
978- 0- 520- 26854- 8 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Pentecostal churches— Botswana—Gaborone. 2. Gaborone
(Botswana)— Church history. I. Title.
BX8762.A45B58 2011
276.883'083—dc22 2010047448
Manufactured in the United States of America
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on Cascades Enviro 100, a 100% post consumer
waste, recycled, de-i nked fi ber. FSC recycled certifi ed and pro cessed
chlorine free. It is acid free, Ecologo certifi ed, and manufactured by
BioGas energy.
For Muriel Sutherland Snowden and Otto Snowden
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Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
PART I. TO AND FROM CRISIS AND BEYOND
1. Holy Hustling 21
2. Between the Prophetic and the Pastoral 43
3. The Lives of Prophets and Bishops 63
4. Escalating Crisis: Faith and Trust “under Destruction” 82
5. Schism, Innovation, and Continuity 102
Part II. WONDROUS NARRATION AND SOMATIC
REVELATION IN PROPHECY
6. Personal Nearness and Sincerity in Prayer 121
7. Diagnosis, Reconnaissance, and Fabrication 132
8. Prescribing Christian Cosmetics: Moving
Bodies and Intercorporeality 165
9. Old and New in Christian Reformation 179
Conclusion: From Film to Book—Dianoia and Noesis 208
Notes 221
References 233
Index 247
vii
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Illustrations
Maps
1. Botswana 7
2. Gaborone and environs 88
Figures
1. Diagnostic consultation with prophet. 10
2. Hospital- style consultation, forms, and rows. 11
3. Church servants preparing holy water and prescriptions. 12
4. Church servants laying on hands. 27
5. Paraffi n vapor bath illuminating darkness from patient. 49
6. Pastor-general in full regalia before sacrifi cial pyre. 53
7. Iconography on prophet’s wall. 59
8. Iconography in prophet’s album. 60
9. Introducing the prophets’ digital studio. 60
10. Bishop’s seamstress preparing robes. 79
11. Servants with patients waiting for treatment. 105
12. Archbishop with Mothers of the Church at headquarters. 107
13. Bishop reporting at city church on his tour. 108
ix