OKH Journal: Anthropological Ethnography and Analysis Through the Eyes of Christian Faith

The End of Woman; How Smashing The Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us

Diane Washburn — 2026-01-30

Walking Blind, and Other Essays on Biblical Texts

Brooke Boyd — 2026-01-30

Pentecostalism in Urban Oaxaca; Healing, Patriarchy, Marriage and Mexico

Christopher Valencia — 2026-01-30

The Dawn of Everything; A New History of Humanity

Elizabeth Joransen — 2026-01-30

Citizenship and Discipleship

Boubakar Sanou — 2026-01-30

Modern nation-states construct a sense of belonging through legal frameworks, civic rituals, and nationalist narratives. These practices reveal the state not only as a political institution but also as a symbolic system that often operates with quasi-religious force, shaping identity and loyalty. For Christians, this dynamic creates a persistent tension, since discipleship calls for supreme allegiance to Christ that cannot be subordinated to civic or national claims. Drawing on anthropological theories of the state, biblical and theological analysis, and historical examples, this article examines how believers have navigated the competing demands of citizenship and discipleship. It argues that while Scripture affirms the legitimacy of political authority, it also places clear limits on the state’s claims, particularly when they encroach upon obedience to God. The study highlights both the dangers of conflating nationalism with discipleship and the possibilities for cultivating a faithful presence that honors civic responsibility while resisting the sacralization of political power.

Walking Through “Death Alley”

Christopher Valencia — 2026-01-30

This article explores the intersection between religion and the city as they appear on sidewalk life. According to the urban planner Jane Jacobs, the sidewalk becomes both the infrastructure that governs and influences city life, and a space that reflects the vibrancy of human life. This article takes as its focus a particular street in the Los Angeles area known as Vermont Avenue. This street was described in the LA Times (Cruz & Schwencke) by a detective in 2014 as “death alley” due to the high homicide rates that had taken place in it since 2007. Such a phrase is close to the biblical term “death valley,” which can be seen in expressions like: “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psa. 23:4, English Standard Version). At times, within such biblical passages that refer to death, there is also mentioned a passing through, or a transformation from death to life. On Vermont Avenue, or ‘death alley,’ its sidewalks and streets became spaces where death occurred. But is there a way to redefine these sidewalks and streets? To question such narratives of death this article uses walking methods and visual sociology—including photography and spatial semiotics as explored by Roman Jakobson—to explore religion on the streets and to consider how Vermont Avenue can be reframed as a street or road possessing narratives of life. The psalmist said: “I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” thus, the valley is meant to be passed through; death is a reality, but it is not a static narrative. Through the process of walking through this street, I consider how urban churches and religion on the streets embody what I term an urban gospel poetics, which reminds us of how such urban churches draw on Christian themes to fight against death and urban violence.

Witchcraft and the Theology of Development in Malawi

Timothy Nyasulu — 2026-01-30

The article examines the involvement of youths in witchcraft accusations and violence and its impact on development. Youths are the largest sector of the population in Malawi, estimated at half of Malawi’s population. If strategically harnessed, this demographic dividend could help the nation achieve its ambitious development aspirations (UNICEF–Malawi Youth 2020). The implementation of the vision “Malawi 2063” is largely reliant on energetic young people to achieve the development aspirations of the nation (Resolution Malawi 2063). Unfortunately, there are impediments such as witchcraft related issues that distract youths’ focus on development. Young people’s involvement in perpetrating witchcraft accusations and violence in the country has affected the development of the country.

Beyond ‘’Guesthood”

Lindy Backues — 2026-01-30