Deliverance as a technique to counter "spiritual insecurity". The case of Mutundwe Christian Fellowship in Kampala

Abstract

One of the most significant aspects of Pentecostalism's expansion in Africa is the creation of deliverance centers, which are presented as spaces for deliverance from evil spirits and solutions to the problems of daily and family life. Through the case study of Mutundwe Christian Fellowship in Kampala, the article analyzes the central role assumed by these centers and deliverance practices in conceptions related to "spiritual insecurity" and witchcraft. The article argues that Pentecostal religiosity is particularly effective in presenting itself as oriented toward action and in the contrast of spiritual forces, and that part of its attractiveness derives from the promise of possessing tools and ritual practices useful in solving problems that believers experience.