The Influence of Akan Traditional Religious Conceptions on the Reception of Hamartiology of First John by a Selection of Charismatic Preachers of Ghana

Abstract

The general Christian tradition in Ghana has historically attracted local and cultural views to itself that have enriched its universal nature and  strengthened it to address different doctrines in different cultural and religious contexts. This has, however, led to misconceptions in the interpretation of  some Christian doctrines such as the doctrine of sin in 1 John. This study employs a tailored method for reception analysis to analyse the reception of  1 John’s hamartiology by a selection of Ghanaian charismatic preachers. It discovers that both for better and for worse, Akan Traditional Religious (ATR)  concepts of sin influence the reception of the hamartiology of 1 John by charismatic preachers in Ghana. This finding is in itself not surprising. However, the precise manner and extent to which the influences flow have immense implications for the communication of the Gospel in Ghana. The reception- analytical method developed from the philosophical framework of reception theory enables the study to establish that ATR concepts create a horizon of  expectations for Akan charismatic preachers in Ghana that influence their reception of the doctrine of sin in 1 John. From the comparison between the  doctrine of sin in 1 John and the horizon of expectations of charismatic preachers in Ghana, it is apparent that to a large extent they have succeeded in  contextualising the Christian message. In the process, however, traditional Akan cosmology, both for better and for worse, influences their reception of  the doctrine of sin in 1 John.