Righteous Riches

Does God want us to be wealthy? Many people believe that God offers not only eternal joy in the hereafter but also material blessings in the here and now. Other Christians see this "prosperity theology," as nothing more than vulgar materialism, incompatible with orthodox Christianity. In Righteous Riches, Milmon F. Harrison examines the Word of Faith movement, an independent, non-denominational Christian movement that preaches the so-called "health and wealth gospel."
The Word of Faith movement is an international network loosely bound by a basic doctrine called the "Faith Message," which teaches that it is God's will for Christians to be prosperous, successful, and healthy in the present life. Drawing on his personal experiences as a former insider and in-depth interviews with members, Harrison takes us inside the movement, revealing what it is like to belong, and how people accept, reject, and reshape Word of Faith doctrines to fit their own lives. Although the movement is not exclusively African American, many of its most prominent and recognized leaders are African American ministers with large congregations and national television audiences. Analyzing the movement's appeal to African Americans, Harrison argues that, because of their history of oppression and discrimination, African American religious institutions have always had to address the material--as well as spiritual--concerns of their members. The Word of Faith Movement, he says, is one of several prosperity movements that resonate strongly with African Americans. Situating the movement in the contexts of both contemporary American religion and the history of the Black Church, Righteous Riches offers a fascinating look at a quintessentially American phenomenon.

Many people believe that God offers not only eternal joy in the hereafter but also material blessings in the here and now. In "Righteous Riches, " Milmon F. Harrison examines an independent, non-denominational Christian movement that preaches the so-called "health and wealth gospel."

"Those interested in and concerned about contemporary African-American religious practices owe a debt of gratitude to Harrison. He has meticulously documented a religious movement that is highly visible but scarcely understood." --Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

"...a careful yet sympathetic phenomenological analysis of a predominantly African American "Word church." Righteous Riches contextualizes the Faith movement with touchstones from the black church experience and contemporary American culture and therefore is an important contribution to American studies as well as contemporary American religion." --The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies

"Indispensible for anyone interested in understanding contemporary permutations of the black church. Highly recommended." --Choice