A SEMIOTIC STUDY OF

MANIPULATION IN CHARISMATIC
AND PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES IN
THE CAPE COAST METROPOLIS

Group members
Sephakor Tay
Kofi Konadu
Monica Siripi
Anthony Sasu Ayisadu
Gloria Adusei
Layla Kake Bent
 outline
• Introduction
• The location of the research site
• Objectives of the study
• sampled population
• Sampling procedure
• Research instrument
• Ethical principles
• Challenges
 Introduction
• Communication in the church nowadays has been
wroth with many signs and symbols.

• It was our assumption that “most church leaders use

these signs and symbols to manipulate their
congregants”.

• Bevan (2000) defined symbol as “something presented

to the senses which stands for
something else”.
• Symbolism in worship is the use of objects and
actions which represent some inner and
deeper religious meaning. Symbols bridge the
gap between the sensory and the spiritual.

• By engaging our senses, symbols can help us

keep our attentions on God.
• Objects are symbols useful in worship because
they represent certain facts, ideas, or feelings.
• Symbols are complex and their meanings can
evolve as the individual or culture evolves.
• When a symbol loses its meaning and power
for an individual or culture, it becomes a dead
symbol.
• When a symbol becomes identified with the
deeper reality to which it refers, becomes
idolatrous as the "symbol is taken for reality."
• Sign is one of the constituent elements of logo
design. Logo is an abbreviation of logotype
which is derived from Greek.

• Our study therefore looked at the

manipulations in the church using signs an
symbols in Charismatic and Pentecostal
churches
 Research Objective
• To investigate how members of Charismatic
and Pentecostal Churches are manipulated by
their religious leaders and the influence it has
on the congregants.
 Specific Objectives
• To find out the mode of communication and
belief systems in the Charismatic and
Pentecostal Churches in relation to signs and
symbols.
• To examine the impact of the manipulation of
the signs and symbols on the finances of
church members
 Theoretical framework
• The study used the semiotic and information manipulation theories.

• Semiotics is used to describe what signs are and how they function in
a given context or environment.

• Visual contents and designs which are in form of logos have impacts
on its target audience.

• The language therefore helps people to identify the signs in relation

to the message. Different churches or denominations use language as
a sign-system to communicate their intended message to their target
audience.
 Information Manipulation Theory
• IMT offers a multidimensional approach to
deceptive messages, which integrates Grice’s
theory of conversational implicature.
• IMT offers a pragmatic explanation for why
deceptive messages decieve.
• It views deception as arising from covert
violations of four maxims (quality, quantity,
relevance and manner)
 Methodology
• Site:
• Life cathedral, Antem
• Holyfire international church, Pedu
• ICGC exalted temple, kakumdo
• INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN LIFE CATHEDRAL
• This church is situated at Antem new site. It is a one man church which
started which started very small at cape coast, London bridge, precisely
at Ayawda Guam (Thursday market.) due to its increase in number of
the of the congregants, the church was relocated to its current site
which is Antem new site here in cape coast.
• HOLYFIRE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH
• The Holyfire International Church is located at Pedu opposite the Matlat
Hotel adjacent the Electoral Commision office. The belief system of the
church is the belief in symbols predominantly, Holy Water and Oil which
is normally used for impartation service.
• INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC)
• ICGC church is located at cape coast kakumdo road right behind lucky
gas filling station. The church was formally worshiping in a class room,
but also relocated to their current place due to increase in the number
of their congregants.
• Sample population : 25 participants

• Sampling Procedure: Non probability, purposive

sampling, probability random sampling

• Research Instrument: Interview Guide,

Observation at the sites

• The interview sessions were recorded using a

professional recorder
 Ethical Principles
• Informed consent
• Participants were informed about the study
and were made aware that it purely for
academic work.
• Their anonymity was assured and this made
them relaxed to respond to our questionnaire.
 Challenges
• Unwillingness to open up to give information
• Potential lies to save the image of the church
• Time to ask enough questions
• Know different kinds of behaviors. Personalities
• Exposure to how charismatic/Pentecostal churches
conduct their services
• Stressful experience
• Helps to appreciate other people’s views /beliefs.
• Research is fun
 Data Analysis
• CODING

• E. EXPECTATION
• What you gained from the church
• What you expect to give to the church
• Fulfilment of expectation
• Y NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE CHURCH
• Number of years spent at the church
• SS SIGNS AND SYMBOLS OF THE CHURCH
• S1. Specific signs the church believes in
• Song ministration, tongues speaking, instrumentation, the sermons, offering, deliverance sessions etc
• S2 specific symbols the church believes in: Bible, Anointing Oil, Holy Water, stickers, bangles, pictures,
• M MANIPULATION
• Induced messages/ prophecies
• Offerings and fund raisings
• Purchase of items: anointing oil, stickers, calendars, bangles etc.
 Appendix A: Interview Guide
• Can you tell me your name and where you come from
• How long have you been worshipping here
• How do you feel about worshipping here
• Which department .society do you belong to
• What is the relationship between the church members and the pastor/ church leaders?
• As a member of this church, what are your expectations from the church? (Salvation, marriage,
financial breakthrough, travelling, etc.)
• Do you pray about your expectations?
• How often do you pray about them?
• Do you believe worshipping with signs and symbols and objects and images?
• What are some of these signs and symbols and objects you believe in praying with.
• Who introduced you to praying or the usage of these (friend, family, pastor)
• Can your pastor lead you to achieve your expectations in this church, how if yes, explain if no.
• Have you been asked by your pastor .prophet to bring or buy the following materials from him
• Have the above mentioned items helped in solving your problems
• Will you continue to buy them yourself or from your pastor/ prophet
• Do you think your pastor or any pastor manipulates church members through the use of these things?
Appendix B: Pictures from the site