Sabastiano Rwengabo

Beyond the Spiritual: New Christianities and 21st Century Governance Challenges in Africa Sabastiano Rwengabo

Contemporary religious proselytism and evangelisation in Africa, and the various socio- political and economic dynamics of new Christianities attest to the governance challenges lying ahead for the state and as a central governance actor. The need for deep intellectual explanations for the resilience of religion amidst increased rationality and scientific progress;to draw implications of this revival and reconstitution for governance, is never more dire. Something beyond the spiritual and personal relationships with God, looms. Religion thus poses governance challenges related to the socio-economic, the identity formations, religio-political and community processes, inter- and intra-religious relations, as well as the sheer complication of governance by using perverse 'soft' and 'hard' power that threatens the realm of the state and worsens intra- and inter-religious rifts. To these complications this study pays attention.