The Bible For Normal People Episode 181: Kate Bowler - The Prosperity Gospel & a Theology of Suffering
Oct 4, 2021
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Kate's Encounter with Prosperity Church
- Kate Bowler discovered a prosperity megachurch in her hometown, shocking her Mennonite expectations.
- She then spent her twenties studying these churches and their theology firsthand, uncovering deeper insights.
Faith as Spiritual Power
- Prosperity gospel defines faith as a spiritual power that can be triggered by specific positive speech and visualization.
- It combines American individualism, Pentecostal faith healing, metaphysics, and teaches humans can tap divinity to prosper.
Faith Shifts Towards Finances
- Prosperity gospel shifted from faith-for-health to faith-for-finances in mid-20th century postwar economic confidence.
- Concepts like "seed faith" were created to explain financial multiplication as a spiritual harvest.