Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 14:1 (Sep 2012)
Article: Sons Of God Marrying Daughters Of Man: An Exercise In Integrated Theology.
Author: Franklin S. Jabini

Conspectus 14:1 (September 2012) p. 81

Sons Of God Marrying Daughters Of Man: An Exercise In Integrated Theology.

Frank Jabini1

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the issues of spiritual spouses and identify possibly ways in which the church can respond to this phenomenon. The study conducted was a biblical, historical, and systematic enquiry into this phenomenon, with relationship between the ‘sons of God’ and ‘daughter of man’ in Genesis 6:2 as the point of departure. The study revealed that the scriptures and both past and present church leaders taught that spiritual beings can be involved in sexual activities with human beings. The paper concluded by proposing practical ways in which the church should respond to this phenomenon.

1. Introduction

1.1. Background

Gifford (2004:97) described cases in the ministry of the Ghanaian prophet, Elisha Salifu Amoako, where spirit beings were said to have had sexual intercourse with human beings. One woman was said to have married a marine spirit. He explains: ‘a man involved in witchcraft

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was said to have eight wives pregnant in the spirit realm, who included crocodile spirits and spirits of rats … One really forlorn pregnant woman who admitted she had no husband was told she had been impregnated by a spirit taking the form of a man’ (p. 97).

The phenomenon of claiming human beings having sexual intercourse with spirits are not limited in Africa to Ghana alone. In my country of origin, the republic of Suriname, spirit beings play a critical role in the life of the Afro-Surinamese people. Many have claimed possession by different kinds of spirits, some of which may have even force some into prostitution or illegitimate sexual relationships. For example, a woman with a male Apuku spirit would claim having sexual relationships with that spirit in her dreams. Understandably, it is difficult for such a woman to develop and maintain a permanent relationship with a man. Social scientist, Gloria Wekker (1994:83-84), and the Roman Catholic priest, Karel Choennie (1997:55), have both discussed this phenomenon in their works.

Having studied various African Christian television broadcasting networks over the past five years, some episodes stand out. For example, during the services of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), broadcasted on Emmanuel TV, deliverance from ‘spiritual husbands’ and ‘spiritual wives’ are not uncommon. These spiritual spouses are described as evil spirits that come in the night, in the form of human beings, to have intercourse with their human ‘spouses’. I...