Relationship between Contextualised Understandings of God the Role of Paranormal Religious Experiences among Akurinu Believers in Nairobi County

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to examine the relationship between understandings of God and the role of paranormal religious experiences among the Akurinu believers in Nairobi County, Kenya, as believers who share doctrines, beliefs and practices with other believers in African Independent Churches (AICs). The authentic hermeneutical procedure of interpreting God’s objective truth recorded in the Bible is instrumental to believers’ access to God’s truth. Two theories which guided the study were Divine Command Theory (DCT) and Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIT). The study adopted mixed methods research which used descriptive research design. The study was conducted among believers sampled from Akurinu congregations registered with General Conference of Akurinu Churches Assembly (GeCACA) in Nairobi County. The study targeted population of 2600 Akurinu believers. A sample size of 336 Akurinu believers and 18 leaders was selected using simple random, proportionate and purposive sampling techniques, respectively. Validity and reliability were ensured through piloting and expert advice and piloting of instruments. Data were analysed using Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0, to generate multivariate linear regression model at alpha=0.05 and findings presented in tables, frequencies, percentages and inferential statistics. The results indicated a strong positive correlation at r=0.659, which justified acceptance of an alternative hypothesis. The findings would help Akurinu leadership apply authentic hermeneutical principles which would increase the accuracy of God’s truth accessed objectively from biblical texts and applied as biblical contextual theology by Akurinu believers.