Dialogue with Demons, Religion, Culture and Exorcism in Christian Churches in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study takes a comparative analysis, pitting tradition and autochthonous cultures on one end and religious forms on the other. The comparison of traditional cosmologies and culture can be seen to be blended in almost all dominant forms of worship in the country. The study drew insights from the handling and conceptualization of some of the most contentious and divisive issues in modern day Zimbabwean religion, that is, spirit possession and exorcism. It is the conclusion of the paper that, religious forms of worship are a mirror image of societal beliefs and cultures. Hence, though there is a multiplicity of religious voices in the country, the common denominator remains the culture and cosmologies of local people. Utilizing qualitative methodologies, the study look mostly at three dimensions of worship in the country. Mainline Christian churches, Pentecostals and indigenous Apostolic movements are examined to show how their conceptualization of spirit possession and exorcism echo local cultural and religious cosmologies. The study notes that, though denominations and religious forms of worship are multiple, essentially they are dealing with the same problems which come out of people's local beliefs.