DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.187653.1 ISSN: 2046-1402

Prophetic Ritual Paraphernalia and Healing Praxis in South African Pentecostalism: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Sadiki Thalukanyo Cloepatra Mufunwa, Mashudu Edward Muthivhi
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In contemporary African Pentecostalism, prophetic ritual paraphernalia have become key elements in healing and deliverance ministry. Among others, anointing oil, holy water, handkerchiefs, wristbands, stickers, sand, and holy items are used for conveying the phenomenon of divine healing, divine protection, deliverance, and spiritual change. In the framework of the African Pentecostal paradigm, these artifacts are grasped as actual contact points between the spiritual and material worlds, which illustrate wider theological assumptions regarding divine mediation, sacred power and embodied religious experience. Followers of this phenomenon consider their actions to be prescribed by biblical texts, while their critics express concerns about the commodification of sacred power, becoming of prophetic authority, and subsequently abuses against believers of the sect. Despite appeals to religious and academic institutions, insufficient work has been done in analysing prophetic rituals. This scoping review seeks to map, synthesise and critically analyse existing literature on prophetic ritual paraphernalia and healing praxis in South African Pentecostal churches. In addition, it will examine the different types of objects used, the theological and biblical arguments that support their use, their intended purposes, the experiences and perceptions associated with them. By identifying leading themes, theoretical viewpoints, methodological trends, and knowledge gaps, the review aims to unpack academic discussions in Practical Theology, African Theology, and Pentecostal Studies while providing input for ecclesiastical reflection on healing practices in Africa today.

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