African Journal of Pentecostal Studies 2026 Special Collection: We invite you to submit

AOSIS calls on all authors to participate in the African Journal of Pentecostal Studies 2026 special collection that will be published in the open-access scholarly journal. Submit your latest research for consideration, contribute to the open-access content available to everyone, and share your expertise with a wider audience.

Timeline:

• Submissions open: 01 April 2025
• Submissions deadline: 31 October 2025
• Expected publication date: 31 January 2026

The Challenge of Syncretism in Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism

Syncretism—the blending of Christian beliefs with local cultural or religious practices—presents a significant challenge within Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism, especially in contexts where these movements have rapidly expanded, such as in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Pentecostalism’s emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit, supernatural manifestations, and experiential faith makes it particularly adaptable to diverse cultural settings. However, this adaptability can also lead to unintended theological compromises. In many regions, pre-existing religious practices, such as ancestor veneration, animism, or folk healing rituals, may be incorporated into Pentecostal worship or beliefs. For example, in some African contexts, deliverance practices and prosperity teachings reflect elements of traditional spiritual warfare and the desire for material blessing, blending them with Christian doctrine.

Neo-Pentecostalism, with its strong emphasis on prosperity theology and charismatic leadership, faces similar risks. Some Neo-Pentecostal churches promote practices like “seed sowing” for financial blessings, which critics argue mirror transactional relationships with deities in local religions. Furthermore, uncritical accommodation of cultural elements can dilute core Christian doctrines, creating theological inconsistencies and ethical concerns.

Addressing syncretism requires Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal movements to strike a delicate balance between cultural contextualization and doctrinal integrity. Leaders and theologians must carefully discern which cultural expressions enrich worship and which distort biblical teachings. The challenge is exacerbated by the decentralized and often non-denominational structure of these movements, which can hinder accountability and theological oversight.

To combat syncretism, Pentecostals must invest in robust theological education, Spirit-led discernment, and a strong commitment to biblical authority. By doing so, they can ensure that their faith remains rooted in the gospel while engaging meaningfully with diverse cultural contexts.

Recommended topics:

We encourage submissions on a range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Syncretism within African classical Pentecostalism
• Syncretism with African Neo-Pentecostalism
• The challenges of contextualisation
• The role of culture within the religious tradition
• Pentecostal experiential faith and syncretism
• Evaluation of phenomena of cultural customs’ use within the church

Manuscript information:

The author guidelines include information about the types of articles received for publication and preparing a manuscript for submission. Read the full submissions guidelines.

Submission procedure:

When submitting your article to African Journal of Pentecostal Studies, choose ‘The Challenge of Syncretism in Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism’ as the article type. You can access the submission portal on the journal’s website after logging in with your personal credentials. For further information on the submission process, visit the journal procedure page.

All submissions will undergo an anonymous review process to guarantee high scientific quality and relevance to the subject. The Editor-in-Chief will make the final decision on acceptance, revision, or rejection based on the feedback from the reviewers.

We will be happy to provide you with any assistance during the submission and application process. Kindly enquire at submissions@ajops.org.

All submissions and inquiries should be directed to the attention of the guest editors:

• Prof. Marius Nel (North-West University) – Marius.Nel@nwu.ac.za
• Prof. Mookgo Solomon Kgatle (University of South Africa) – kgatls@unisa.ac.za

We would be honoured to receive a positive reply from you and look forward to receiving your article.