334
J. D. Griffiths
in Fiji (Cox et al. 2018). They show that Cyclone Winston (February 2016) was
commonly understood by Fijian Christians as “an act of divine judgement and punishment” or as a consequence of “original sin” (Cox et al. 2018, p. 381). When grappling with ecological disasters, like flooding or cyclones, Pentecostal Fijians use “key
Old Testament texts, such as 2 Chronicles 7: 14, [which] are thought to set out the
paradigm of post-disaster humility and repentance” (Cox et al. 2018, p. 392). When
faced with ecological disasters, Fijian Pentecostals tend to interpret these disasters
as a divine judgement for the sin and lack of repentance among the people.
Cox et al. (2018, p. 389) note that “interpreting natural disasters as an act of divine
judgment is an ancient practice in Christianity,” however, technocratic worldviews
seek scientific answers to these natural disasters. This leads to a clash between the
enchanted and technocratic worldviews as,
Secular state and NGO disaster management practices derive from this shift in perspective
[from enchanted to technocratic] and rarely acknowledge local perceptions of divine agency.
Nevertheless, … religious interpretations of “natural” disasters are highly important for
understanding local and national responses to these disasters in many contexts outside the
West, including the Pacific. (Cox et al. 2018, p. 389)
The technocratic worldview dismisses any divine agency in ecological disasters,
meaning that disaster management efforts presuming this technocratic worldview
rarely connect with localised responses to ecological disasters. This is shown in the
religious response to the secular hashtag#StrongerthanWinston, which Cox et al.
(2018) note that:
Despite its broad appeal, “Stronger than Winston” did not sit comfortably with some evangelical [which would include Pentecostal] Christians who regarded the cyclone as an act of
chastisement from God. For these groups, the claim that the community was “Stronger than
Winston” was a hubristic and anthropocentric claim that ignored divine agency and therefore diverted attention from the urgent need to demonstrate a humble disposition toward God
through public acts of repentance. (p. 389)
The clash of enchanted and technocratic worldviews leads to foreign technocratic
responses being seen as hubristic by the local community, leading to a lack of engagement by local inhabitants and a low longevity to foreign technocratic responses (Luetz
and Nunn 2020).
These two examples show this enchanted worldview in action, as ecological disasters, whether they are severe like cyclones or flooding, or long-term like drought or
failing crops, are understood as indicating a spiritual problem. In this enchanted
worldview, ecological disasters require a spiritual solution, whether that be repentance of particular sins or the exorcism of ancestral spirits. Having elucidated the
enchanted nature of Pentecostal worldview that is present in the Pacific Islands, I will
now engage with this worldview, through an ecological reading of Acts 2: 17–21,
which is one of the key biblical foundations of Pentecostal worldview.
J. D. Griffiths
in Fiji (Cox et al. 2018). They show that Cyclone Winston (February 2016) was
commonly understood by Fijian Christians as “an act of divine judgement and punishment” or as a consequence of “original sin” (Cox et al. 2018, p. 381). When grappling with ecological disasters, like flooding or cyclones, Pentecostal Fijians use “key
Old Testament texts, such as 2 Chronicles 7: 14, [which] are thought to set out the
paradigm of post-disaster humility and repentance” (Cox et al. 2018, p. 392). When
faced with ecological disasters, Fijian Pentecostals tend to interpret these disasters
as a divine judgement for the sin and lack of repentance among the people.
Cox et al. (2018, p. 389) note that “interpreting natural disasters as an act of divine
judgment is an ancient practice in Christianity,” however, technocratic worldviews
seek scientific answers to these natural disasters. This leads to a clash between the
enchanted and technocratic worldviews as,
Secular state and NGO disaster management practices derive from this shift in perspective
[from enchanted to technocratic] and rarely acknowledge local perceptions of divine agency.
Nevertheless, … religious interpretations of “natural” disasters are highly important for
understanding local and national responses to these disasters in many contexts outside the
West, including the Pacific. (Cox et al. 2018, p. 389)
The technocratic worldview dismisses any divine agency in ecological disasters,
meaning that disaster management efforts presuming this technocratic worldview
rarely connect with localised responses to ecological disasters. This is shown in the
religious response to the secular hashtag#StrongerthanWinston, which Cox et al.
(2018) note that:
Despite its broad appeal, “Stronger than Winston” did not sit comfortably with some evangelical [which would include Pentecostal] Christians who regarded the cyclone as an act of
chastisement from God. For these groups, the claim that the community was “Stronger than
Winston” was a hubristic and anthropocentric claim that ignored divine agency and therefore diverted attention from the urgent need to demonstrate a humble disposition toward God
through public acts of repentance. (p. 389)
The clash of enchanted and technocratic worldviews leads to foreign technocratic
responses being seen as hubristic by the local community, leading to a lack of engagement by local inhabitants and a low longevity to foreign technocratic responses (Luetz
and Nunn 2020).
These two examples show this enchanted worldview in action, as ecological disasters, whether they are severe like cyclones or flooding, or long-term like drought or
failing crops, are understood as indicating a spiritual problem. In this enchanted
worldview, ecological disasters require a spiritual solution, whether that be repentance of particular sins or the exorcism of ancestral spirits. Having elucidated the
enchanted nature of Pentecostal worldview that is present in the Pacific Islands, I will
now engage with this worldview, through an ecological reading of Acts 2: 17–21,
which is one of the key biblical foundations of Pentecostal worldview.