Abstract
The chapter argues that South African Pentecostal leaders have immense moral power over congregants and play a significant role in regulating the social meaning of sexualities, singleness and marriage amongst them. The nuclear family is often held up as a symbol of success, blessings and the favour of God. This chapter explores sexuality, marriage and singleness amongst Indian Pentecostal women and seeks to understand whether they find practices in the church life denying or life affirming.
This work is based on research supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa under the auspices of the Desmond Tutu Chair in Religion and Social Justice (Grant No. 118854).
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Notes
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This is in reference to the story of the incredible events that led to the marriage of Ruth and Boaz found in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible. Ruth, a Moabite (a nation shunned by Israel), eventually married Boaz, a rich land owner in Israel.
- 38.
Interview with Pritha, Pietermaritzburg, July 2016.
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Interview with Tia, Pietermaritzburg, July 2016.
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Saro** Nadar, “On being the Pentecostal Church: Pentecostal women’s voices and visions,” The Ecumenical review 56/3 (2004): 354–367.
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Naicker, L. (2020). Sexuality, Marriage and Singleness Among Pentecostal Indian Women in South Africa. In: Kaunda, C.J. (eds) Genders, Sexualities, and Spiritualities in African Pentecostalism. Christianity and Renewal - Interdisciplinary Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42396-4_14
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