(Free format)  Chapter one 

Introduction

1.1 Background to the study

The Prosperity Gospel, which some people also refer to as "the Health and Wealth Gospel" or "the Word of Faith movement," is a highly observable phenomenon within the realm of Christianity, particularly in Nigeria. According to this belief system, God desires for all of His followers to be prosperous, healthy, and successful in all aspects of their life. It is believed that by exercising faith, making affirmations, and financially donating to the leaders of the church, an individual can receive all material benefits and personal success (Akinyemi, 2023). The Prosperity Gospel concept has been one of the most popular topics among Christian believers in Nigeria, with Pentecostal and Charismatic churches being the most active proponents of this idea.

In Nigeria, the advent of the Prosperity Gospel has been associated with an era of intense socio-economic problems such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality. As such, the promise of prosperity and success is very attractive for many Nigerians. The prosperity gospel has thrived through mega churches headed by prominent pastors that propagate this ideology. Such churches use mass media like television, radio, and social media platforms to broadcast their ideologies, reaching several million people (Oluwasegun, 2024).

Although the prosperity gospel is widely accepted, there have been numerous debates about its authenticity and influence on Christianity in Nigeria. The critics point out that this ideology perverts the Christian faith through an overwhelming emphasis on material prosperity and success. This practice has been associated with exploitation and disillusionment among believers. In addition, the insistence on financial donations from the congregants to support church activities threatens the authenticity of religion (Okeke, 2023). The present research intends to investigate the prosperity gospel phenomenon in Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the problem

As the Prosperity Gospel continues to be a significant cultural phenomenon in Nigeria, the long-term impact of it on the faith and spiritual life of Nigerians has not been fully explored yet. Although this type of Christianity is capable of providing much-desired hope and encouragement to many Nigerians suffering from their economic setbacks, some scholars contend that it may facilitate the growth of materialism and distortion of the original Christian message. Hence, the consequences of the Prosperity Gospel on the spiritual, economic, and social aspects of Nigerian Christians should be analyzed.

Firstly, to what extent is Prosperity Gospel theologically grounded in the Nigerian context, and how popular is it amongst Nigerian Christians? Secondly, what are the negative aspects of this doctrine?

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY       

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.5 HYPOTHESES

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

1.7   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

                                                                               CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.3 conceptual review

2.4 Emperical review

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter discusses the research methodology. It entails the method used to carry out the research work and also explains the research design that was used for the study, sample design, methods used in collecting data and how the results data are analyzed.

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN

3.3 POPULATION OF STUDY

3.4 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE AND SAMPLE SIZE

3.5 SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION

3.6 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

3.7 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT

3.8 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

4.0 CHAPTER Four

DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS