| dc.description.abstract | This study is about proliferation of Christian
denominations in Kenya especially through the New Charismatic
Movements (NCMs). These movements are mostly founded by
pastors/preachers with charisma in response to social, political, economic
and religious changes in the contemporary Kenyan Society.
The previous scholarly work done on the Kenyans
NCMs is inadequate. This brings about the significance of this study being
undertaken. The objectives to this study include; identifying the factors
contributing to the extensive Christian denomination multiplicity especially
through NCMs, identifying the impact of NCMs to both the society and
mainline churches and finally to investigate the public perception on the
NCMs.
The study was conducted by analyzing both the primary
and the secondary data. The secondary data was from the library findings;
that is the previous scholarly work gone in form of thesis, projects and
published books and also articles from both the newspaper and magazines.
Sociological and theological approaches were used to find out how the
NCMs relate with the society and the mainline churches respectively.
Together with the library York an extensive fieldwork was done to get the
primary data. Double mixed sampling was used to get the informants.
Purposeful sampling was also used to get the indepth information. Having
the informants the study used both the questionnaires and interviews to get
the data, which were later analysed through descriptive method.
The study identified various factors that contributed to the
rise and growth of NCMs. These factors were found to be revolving in all
dimensions of life; economical, social, psychological, cultural, political and
also religious. Though some of these factors were found by the study to be
genuine, others were not but they were initiated by the pastors or preachers
for them to meet their daily expenses with the help of the congregation. The
study also identified various impacts of the NCMs to the society and the
mainline churches. It was found that though the NCMs had some negative
impacts upon the two, they also had some positive contributions which
needed to be acknowledged and appreciated. The positive effects were also
felt by the youth and women who were realized to form the highest
percentage in these movements.
The study concluded that the New Charismatic
Movements are of great benefit to both the society and mainline churches
especially in their attempt of outreach of the Gospel. Nevertheless,
greediness, dishonesty and desire for wealth were also found to bring about
the proliferation of the Christian Denominations thus leading to
commercializing Christianity through church business. | en |
