The Bible, the Bullet, and the Ballot

Zimbabwe: The Impact of Christian Protest in Sociopolitical Transformation, ca. 1900-ca. 2000

by Fabulous Moyo

Book cover: The Bible, the Bullet, and the Ballot

Extent: 220 pages

Publisher: The Lutterworth Press

Subjects: African Studies, Religious Studies, Social Sciences 

Language: English

Paperback (No longer our product)

(March 2017)

ISBN: 9780718894931

5.98 x 9.02 inches

Price: $37.00

In stock

PDF (Published)

(March 2017)

ISBN: 9780718845858

Price: $28.00

A study of the contribution of Christians and Christian ideals to the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe and to the postcolonial settlement.


The Bible, the Bullet, and the Ballot provides a balanced account of the role of Christians, Christian organisations, and churches in sociopolitical transformation over the bedrock of colonial and nationalist politics in the past century in Zimbabwe. Fabulous Moyo explores the broader social and political impact of prominent African Christian clergy who were sociopolitical activists such as Ndabaningi Sithole, Abel Muzorewa, and Canaan Banana. It also highlights the role of missionaries who contributed to the African struggle for independence such as Ralph Edward Dodge, Donal Lamont, and Garfield Todd. He examines the contributions of African nationalist parties and prominent politicians with Christian roots, such as Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe, in the struggle for independence, and their contribution in the postcolonial era in light of their Christian heritage and the collective pre-independence nationalist ideals on nation-building and national unity.

  • By (author) Fabulous Moyo

"This scholarly yet accessible book is both timely and undeniably thoughtprovoking. It irrevocably draws the reader not only to the history of Christian sociopolitical involvement in Africa but also sheds light on the seeds of the continent's current state of affairs."-Dr Ben Shikwati, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya"An outstanding, informative, and inspiring study that provides fresh and significant insights for today's church in the fight against all the vices of society, including any new form of colonialism to be found anywhere on African soil - and beyond."-Dr Abi T. Ngunga, University of Aberdeen, UK"This book offers a fresh perspective on the role of African Christians and their leadership in the struggle for independence in colonial Zimbabwe. In contrast to much scholarship on Zimbabwean history, this work contends that Christian influence, both Roman Catholic and Protestant alike . . . was significant from the 1960s in the fight against colonialism."-Dr Erwin van der Meer, Zoetermeer, the Netherlands
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