https://hdl.handle.net/10646/325 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:26:45 GMT 2026-04-09T21:26:45Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/818 Title: The Significance of Glossolalia in the Apostolic Faith Mission, Zimbabwe Authors: Machingura, Francis Abstract: This study seeks to look at the meaning and significance of Glossolalia1 in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe.2 This paper has also been influenced by debates surrounding speaking in tongues in most of the Pentecostal churches in general and the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe in particular. It was the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) that brought Pentecostalism to Zimbabwe.3 The paper situates the phenomenon of glossolalia in the Zimbabwean socio-economic, spiritual, and cultural understanding. The Pentecostal teachings on the meaning and significance of speaking in tongues have caused a stir in psychological, linguistics, sociological, anthropological, ethnographical, philological, cultural, and philosophical debates. Yet those in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe argue that their concept of glossolalia is biblically rooted. Surprisingly non-glossolalist Christians also use the Bible to dismiss the pneumatic claims by Pentecostals. The emphasis on speaking in tongues in the AFM has rendered Zimbabwean ‘mainline’ churches like Anglicans, Catholics and Methodists as meaningless. This is the same with African Indigenous Churches which have also been painted with ‘faultlines’, giving an upper hand to AFM in adding up to its ballooning number of followers. This is as a result of their restorationist perspective influenced by the history of the Pentecostal Churches that views all non-Pentecostal churches as having fallen from God’s intentions through compromise and sin. The AFM just like other Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe exhibit an aggressive assault and intolerance toward certain aspects of the African culture, which they label as tradition,4 for example, traditional customs, like paying homage to ancestral spirits (Kurova Guva or bringing back the spirit of the dead ceremony), and marriage customs (polygamy, kusungira or sanctification of the first born ritual). The movement has managed to rid itself of the dominance of the male adults and the floodgates were opened to young men and women, who are the victims of traditional patriarchy. Besides glossolalia being one of the pillars of AFM doctrines, the following also bear some importance: personal testimonies, tithing, church weddings, signs/miracles, evangelism and prosperity theology. Description: The Intellectual Property of this article belongs to the University of Edinburgh University Press. The original article is available on www.eupjournals.com/swc Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10646/818 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/619 Title: ‘Dismantling “Reason-based Moral Status” in Environmental Ethics.’ Authors: Mangena, Fainos Abstract: This article critically explores the assumptions of ‘reason-based moral status’ theorists, as well as ‘sentient’ theorists in establishing moral status. While ‘reason based moral status’ theorists regard reason as the key defining feature of moral status; Peter Singer names sentience as the defining characteristic of moral status. Having looked closely at these submissions, I argue that both arguments are morally repugnant. I maintain that reason is just but one criterion of establishing moral status and it will be wrong to suppose that only reason defines moral status, as nonhuman animals are not endowed with this capacity and hence cannot be disadvantaged because of a capacity which they do not possess in the ‘state of creation.’ In my submissions I also observe that sentience has degrees which Singer fails to identify and discuss. My thesis is at variance with these two positions; for I take it that sentience may not be limited to a mere feeling of pain and pleasure. Against this background, I dismiss Singer’s sentience argument and call for a return to the ‘state of creation’ where all living beings are equal on the basis of having lifespan, species and genus specifications, the brains as well as having flesh and blood. Description: This paper was presented in the department of philosophy of the University of Fort Hare as part of the philosophy colloquium series running under the theme Being Human in August 2009. The original manuscript carried the title: Man – A Moral Ape? On Singer and Naess: The Roots All Beings Share. I have since incorporated comments by those who attended the seminar, in order to give the article its present shape. The article now carries a new title which is very specific to the issues being addressed as recommended by the participants. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10646/619 2009-08-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/519 Title: The Conversion of Paul in the Light of the Theory of Cognitive Dissonance Authors: Togarasei, Lovemore Abstract: Paul’s influence on Christian teaching and practice cannot be underestimated. Several times his teaching is quoted to support certain Christian practices even in African Christianity today. However, the conversion of this Christian giant is hotly contested. This article discusses this topical issue of the conversion of Paul from being a zealous persecutor of the Christian church to being a zealous Christian himself. New Testament scholars have argued over whether Paul’s conversion was gradual or sudden or whether he, in fact, had a conversion. The article looks at the topic from a psycho-social perspective. Using the theory of cognitive dissonance, it argues that Paul must have had a psychological struggle within himself for a long time until he accepted the Christian religion on his way to Damascus. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10646/519 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/516 Title: Contrasting Aspects of Africa Decolonisation Processes and Missions in West and Southern Africa: Ghana and Angola as Case Studies Authors: Verstraelen, Frans. J. Abstract: A major result of the Second World War was a radically new world constellation. In 1945, Soviet Russian and American troops in Torgau at the Elbe shook hands over the ruins of an old Europe that never would dominate the world as it had done before. A bipolar world order had come into being, now dominated by anti-colonial superpowers. Yet, many European nations were still clinging to their overseas colonies in the hope that they could contribute to repairing their diminished political and economic position and prestige in the new global context. New approaches had to be developed and choices made regarding the world-wide changes affecting also the colonies still under European control, and affecting, likewise, Catholic and Protestant Missions operating there. This article deals with the decolonisation processes of the British colony, Ghana, and the Portuguese colony, Angola, and how churches and their missions were involved in these processes. The year 1992 has been chosen as the terminus ad quem because, in that year, elections took place in both Ghana and Angola, though in quite different circumstances and with quite different results. Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10646/516 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z