‘Feminization’ of Poverty: Prosperity Preaching and Job 24:1-17

Abstract

Worldwide, women constitute the majority of the poor and often they are the poorest among the poor. To eliminate poverty and challenge inequality, it is insufficient to improve legislation and policy. In addition to these, gender and power relations, structures, norms and values that underpin them must be transformed. In Ghana, where 95.8% of the inhabitants define themselves as ‘religious’ and openly declare their affiliation for a specific religion, the role of theological reflection is critical. The aim of the paper is, therefore, to answer a crucial question: which theology for the poor? As in the OT dispute between ‘retributive’ and ‘experiential’ theology, the poor are at the centre of prosperity preaching, an ecclesiastic phenomenon in Ghana. According to this ‘gospel,’ wealth is a manifestation of mature faith while poverty signifies lack of faith. In this theological perspective, the poor have no place. Against this background, the article explores the causes of the popularization of prosperity preaching in Ghana and its theological consequences through a reading of Job 24:1-17. Journeying with Job, Ghanaian readers may discover the falsehood of a ‘gospel’ that limits the goal of life to economic prosperity and learn to become ‘voice’ for the voiceless.