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African Affairs 102:409-428 (2003)
© 2003 The Royal African Society

Article

A wondrous God: Miracles in contemporary Africa

Gerrie ter Haar

Gerrie ter Haar is Professor of Religion, Human Rights and Social Change at the Institute of Social Studies, the Hague.

Events or occurrences perceived as miracles are a feature of all religious traditions, although not to the same degree. The perception of a miracle is closely connected to ideas that are extant concerning the relations between the material world and the invisible world. Recent decades appear — at least from fragmentary evidence — to have seen an increase in the number of occurrences perceived as miracles in Africa, in Christian, Muslim and indigenous traditions. These can be of political as well as religious significance. This article discusses recent miracles among African Christians in particular, for two reasons: first, because their type of religiosity appears to be particularly susceptible to belief in miracles. Second, because there is more information available about Christian miracles than about other types.


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