Zionist ‘syncretism’ in the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa before the 1970s A comparative analysis

Abstract

Despite the attested relationship between Zionism and Pentecostalism, the similarities between the pre-1970s black Pentecostalism in the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of South Africa and Zionism are only now getting exposed. Historically, scholarly opinion held that Zionism was syncretistic while seemingly ignorant about the similarly characterised black Pentecostalism within the AFM. Using comparative analysis of relevant literature, the researcher argues that syncretism existed in black Pentecostalism before the 1970s and tabulates (dis)similarities with Zionism before critically discussing their explanations. Invoking the historical appellation of ‘syncretism’ brings the pre-1970s black Pentecostalism to benefit from its revision to becoming a contextualisation of the gospel.