Poverty, Illiteracy and Prosperity Theology in Nigeria

This book was inspired by the proliferation of churches in Nigeria who espouse the gospel of prosperity and the lack of awareness of adherents on the drawbacks of the gospel. It traces how the prosperity gospel travelled all the way from the United States of America to Nigeria and how it spread like wildfire in just a few years. The author draws a parallel and contrast between the prosperity theology and Calvinism as described by Max Weber in his famous work "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism". It describes in very interesting style the features of prosperity gospel in Nigeria like positive confession, pattern of donations, war against enemies of prosperity, etc. It reveals the problems of poverty and illiteracy as factors contributing to the success of this theology. It exposes how so-called prosperity churches in Nigeria have added to the burden of poverty among their adherents by enriching themselves through the donations of their congregants. The book recommends a good number of insightful measures that could be taken advantageously to contain the vagaries and excesses of proponents of the prosperity mantra.