What Is Jesus Doing among the Spirits Today? A Response from an African Reformed Pastoral Theologian

This paper is a response to Carlos F. Cardoza Orlandi’s paper, ‘Jesus in the World of the Spirits: Caribbean Evangélico Christianity and Afro-Caribbean Religions ( Lukumí and Espiritismo Caribeño)’, given from my perspective as an African reformed pastoral theologian. I agree with Cardoza Orlandi on the importance of engaging the issue of the Spirit and the spirits, especially in the Global South, mindful of Rudolf Bultmann’s influence in demythologising scripture and modern theology. In this response, I highlight a hermeneutical challenge in discerning the work of the Holy Spirit among the spirits without conflating the two, as doing so would blur the distinction between Creator and creature. This tricky task has important pastoral consequences, as we seek to be theologically adequate while also honouring and sharing the pain of a grieving family.