DECONSTRUCTING RELIGIOUS FEAR: THE SOCIETAL IMPACT OF ABEL DAMINA’S TEACHINGS ON GRACE AND SALVATION

DECONSTRUCTING RELIGIOUS FEAR: THE SOCIETAL IMPACT OF ABEL DAMINA’S TEACHINGS ON GRACE AND SALVATION

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Fear has long been employed within religious contexts to enforce moral compliance—threats of eternal punishment or judgment for transgressions can instill obedience but also foster anxiety, shame, and spiritual distress. Abel Damina’s ministry actively deconstructs fear‐based doctrines by re‐centering grace and unconditional divine love as foundational to salvation (Juergensmeyer, 2017). Through systematic reinterpretation of key biblical passages, Damina argues that fear should not be the primary motivator for faith; instead, believers are invited into a relationship grounded in trust and assured acceptance before God.

 

Sociologically, such deconstruction can reduce stigma around doubt and mental‐health struggles, as congregants freed from punitive paradigms may feel safer expressing vulnerability and seeking support (Clair, 2018). Psychologically, replacing fear with grace correlates with lower levels of guilt, perfectionism, and religious‐related anxiety, fostering healthier self‐concepts and relational dynamics both within and outside faith communities (Arango et al., 2018). However, the ripple effects of Damina’s anti‐fear pedagogy on broader societal attitudes toward authority, compassion, and communal well‐being remain largely unexplored.

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Although Abel Damina’s emphasis on grace over fear has garnered substantial attention, empirical research is lacking on how this shift influences believers’ mental health, church engagement, and social relations. Anecdotal reports suggest reduced anxiety and deeper community bonds among adherents, but without systematic data, faith leaders and mental‐health practitioners cannot fully appreciate or replicate the benefits of deconstructing fear‐based doctrines.

 

1.3 Objectives of the Study

To analyze the theological and pedagogical methods Damina uses to deconstruct fear‐based teachings on salvation.

 

To assess the impact of this grace‐centered approach on congregants’ religious anxiety, guilt, and community participation.

 

To evaluate downstream societal outcomes—such as increases in social compassion, volunteerism, or reductions in stigma—associated with internalizing grace over fear.

 

1.4 Research Questions

What specific fear‐based doctrines does Abel Damina challenge, and how does he reinterpret them in light of grace?

 

How do followers report changes in their levels of religious anxiety, guilt, and spiritual well‐being after embracing Damina’s teachings?

 

What observable shifts in community behavior or social attitudes can be linked to congregants’ adoption of a grace‐centered faith?

 

1.5 Significance of the Study

Faith Leaders & Pastors: Will receive evidence for the benefits of grace‐centered teaching, informing sermon development and pastoral care practices.

 

Congregants & Mental‐Health Practitioners: Insights into reduced religious anxiety can guide faith‐integrated therapeutic interventions.

 

Theologians & Social Policy Makers: Understanding societal effects of deconstructing fear informs collaborations between religious institutions and social services to foster compassion and civic engagement.

 

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

Scope: Adult attendees of PowerCity International Church in Lagos and Port Harcourt who have participated in Damina’s “Grace and Salvation” series over the past eighteen months.

 

Limitations:

 

Subjectivity of Emotional Measures: Self‐reported levels of guilt and anxiety may vary in accuracy.

 

Cultural Context: Findings rooted in Nigerian Christianity may not generalize to other cultural or denominational settings.

 

1.7 Definition of Terms

Fear‐Based Doctrine: Religious teachings that emphasize punishment or condemnation as primary motivators for belief and behavior.

 

Grace‐Centered Theology: A doctrine focusing on unmerited divine favor and love as the basis for salvation (Juergensmeyer, 2017).

 

Religious Anxiety: Distress arising from perceived inadequacy before divine standards or fear of spiritual consequences.

 

Stigma Reduction: The process of diminishing shame and secrecy around doubt, mental‐health issues, or moral failings (Clair, 2018).

 

Social Compassion: Empathic concern and action toward the needs and suffering of others in the community.

 

List of References

Arango, C., Díaz‐Caneja, C. M., McGorry, P. D., Rapoport, J., Sommer, I. E., Vorstman, J. A., … Carpenter, W. (2018). Preventive strategies for mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(7), 591–604.

 

Clair, M. (2018). Stigma. Core Concepts in Sociology, 318–321.

 

Juergensmeyer, M. (2017). Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence (Vol. 13). University of California Press.

 

Schwadel, P., & Anderson, A. L. (2022). Religion and Americans’ fear of crime in the 21st century. Review of Religious Research, 64(1), 145–162.