Exploring religious beliefs against naming children after deceased members of the lineage in Pentecostal churches of Lusaka district.

This study was designed to explore religious beliefs against naming children after
deceased members of the lineage in Pentecostal churches of Lusaka district. The
objectives of the study were to explain the logic in naming children after deceased
members of the lineage in Zambian cultures, to explore reasons against naming Children
after deceased members of the lineage in Pentecostal churches of Lusaka, and to examine
the kind of names that Pentecostals give to their children instead of the names of their
deceased members of the lineage. The study used a case study design that involved the
use of qualitative methods. The target population for the study was the selected
Pentecostal Churches in Lusaka. The eligible respondents included 20 pastors, 10 parents,
10 Leaders (deacons and elders) as well as 8 focus group participants, bringing the total
number to 48 respondents, all of them were 35 years and above. The participants were
selected using purposive and snowballing sampling methods and the data was collected
using in-depth interviews and a Focus Group Discussion. The data collected was
analysed thematically. The study revealed that in the Zambian cultures, naming children
after deceased members of the lineage is very cardinal to keep the tradition. The study
also revealed that Pentecostals are against the practice of naming children after deceased
relatives due their belief that names have influence on the bearer’s life. The study further
revealed that Pentecostals have their own inclination where naming newly born babies is
concerned. The study, therefore, recommends that: Pentecostals need to learn and
understand that the practice of naming children after deceased relatives is and was a way
of keeping records/ events or history of the family. Other churches in Zambia need to
understand that Pentecostals are against naming children after decease relatives due to
their belief that names influence and shape the bearer’s destiny. Pentecostals should
critically analyse and understand that all names on earth have existed for a long time in
different cultures and as such every name is for the deceased regardless where it is gotten
from and that includes names found in the Bible. Pentecostal churches should find a
midway of incorporating Zambian naming culture into its theology or doctrines. In this
manner the cultural heritage of the Zambian Pentecostals would be upheld and valued.
Recommendations for future study are that since the study was carried out in an urban
setting, a similar study should be conducted in a rural setting and results compared.
Further, since the study was done in Pentecostal Churches, other scholars should conduct
similar research in mainline Churches to explore their religious beliefs concerning
naming children after deceased relatives.
Keywords: Pentecostal, naming, dead relatives, inclinations, Zambian culture