Powerful Devices: Prayer and the Political Praxis of Spiritual Warfare

Powerful Devices explores how Christian groups with dominant cultural power use performance activism to disestablish structures of power and knowledge and establish righteousness, combining religious studies with ethnography. It examines spiritual warfare prayers as a "device" that enables an apprehension of time, paradigms of self-enhancement, and the subversion of politics and authority.

Format: Hardback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 14 October 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Powerful Devices delves into the realm of spiritual warfare performances as a means to dismantle power structures and knowledge systems, paving the way for establishing righteousness in their stead. By drawing upon the emphasis of performance studies on radicality and the disruption of social norms as tools for social transformation, the book showcases how Christian groups, despite holding dominant cultural power, perceive themselves as embattled and utilize the ideas of performance activism. Through a combination of religious studies and ethnography, Powerful Devices explores the practices of Nigerian Pentecostals and US Evangelicals in transnational spiritual warfare. By closely examining spiritual warfare prayers as a "device," the book reveals how these rituals enable an understanding of time, self-enhancement paradigms, and the subversion of politics and authority. This critical intervention delves into the intricate relationship between charismatic Christianity, science, secular authority, technology, temporality, neoliberalism, and reactionary ideology.

Introduction:
Powerful Devices explores the transformative power of spiritual warfare performances as a means to challenge and dismantle established power structures and knowledge systems. By drawing upon the rich tradition of performance studies, the book emphasizes the role of radicality and the breaking of social norms as tools for social transformation. The book demonstrates how Christian groups, despite holding dominant cultural power, perceive themselves as embattled and utilize the ideas of performance activism to challenge and subvert oppressive systems.

Through a combination of religious studies and ethnography, Powerful Devices delves into the practices of Nigerian Pentecostals and US Evangelicals in transnational spiritual warfare. By closely examining spiritual warfare prayers as a "device," the book reveals how these rituals enable an understanding of time, self-enhancement paradigms, and the subversion of politics and authority. The book also explores the intricate relationship between charismatic Christianity, science, secular authority, technology, temporality, neoliberalism, and reactionary ideology.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Powerful Devices offers a critical intervention into the study of spiritual warfare performances and their role in challenging and dismantling power structures and knowledge systems. By highlighting the importance of radicality, the breaking of social norms, and the subversion of oppressive systems, the book provides valuable insights into the practices of Christian groups and their relationship to science, secular authority, technology, temporality, neoliberalism, and reactionary ideology. The book's interdisciplinary approach and rich analysis make it a valuable resource for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in exploring the complex dynamics of power and knowledge in contemporary society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978831520