Economic Development Effects of Church Revivals in Africa
Often times when development experts propose
solutions to the problems of underdevelopment and poverty, the solutions are
tilted towards addressing the effects
of underdevelopment such as high unemployment, hunger, low literacy rate, prevalence
of communicable diseases, and other low quality of life parameters.
There are fewer empirical investigations into
the causes of underdevelopment and
poverty across developing countries. For instance, there is a need to intricately
decipher the role that traditions, cultural values, norms, beliefs, and religious
inclinations play in development. This is because non-economic factors could be
either great contributors to or deterrents of development.
Within the Weberian framework of economic
development, religious affiliations to Protestantism and Protestant ethics were
observed to be stimulants of the entrepreneurial spirit. In turn, the
entrepreneurial spirit significantly contributed to industrial development.
Notably, most revivals in church history have
culminated in waves of inventions, industrial development, social change, reduction
in crime, testimonies of changed lives and increases in economic activity. The
18th century evangelical revival led by Wesley, for instance, lifted
many out of poverty.
Although Africa has been experiencing various
dimensions of church revivals over the last five decades, there are untold
stories of the relationship between such religious influences and improvements
in the quality of life and economic transformation.
It is important to document self-reported incidences
of transformation from poverty to prosperity in order to identify the
intervening roles of social and religious institutions in development. For
example, I am very interested to investigate the socio-economic effects of church
settlements in selected communities of Africa.
Using qualitative and quantitative research
methods I hope to provide answers to some research questions such as: To what
extent does religion and religious doctrines influence the lifestyle and daily
productive activities of adherents? What changes in living standards are
attributable to increases in church settlements in Africa?
I expect that the findings of the impending
study will provide insights into some micro-level causes of economic progress
and inform policies that strengthen pro-development institutions.
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