Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

In this paper, we interrogate various trajectories faced by undocumented immigrant youths from Zimbabwe in the city Johannesburg in the context of religious mafia. One of the variables of migration is the growth of various religious movements that may align themselves with the oppressed and marginalized immigrant communities, in particular the youths. Religion has become a place of solace among the migrant youths, since it is has the impetus to usher “hope” and quick solutions in the face various ambivalence and ambiguity. While this religious task may be noble and desirable, many migrant youths have fallen victim to religious mafia movements, which this paper seeks to unmask and challenge towards reconstructing religion that opposes oppression and criminality. Cognisant of this, the paper is underpinned in decoloniality theory that seeks to name, challenge and emancipate the oppressed from both Global North and South oppression and reconstruct a rehumanisation theology. To collect data, we used participatory action research where forty youths took part in this study. The findings indicated that mafiarised religions have worsened the plight of undocumented migrants by offering false hope, false protection and no jobs. Consequently, many youths no longer see religion as safe haven for the oppressed and marginalized thus sliding easy into crime for survival. We end the paper by arguing that there is need to reconstruct a theology that rehumanises the oppressed migrant youths and oppressors through deliberate challenge of religious mafia.