Studying Global Pentecostalism: Theories and Methods (The Anthropology of Christianity)

338 Pages·2010·2.16 MB·English

by  Allan Anderson

Studying Global Pentecostalism
Th e editors want to thank the following institutions for their
fi nancial assistance toward the conferences on which this
publication is based: British Academy, University of Heidelberg,
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vrije
Universiteit Amsterdam, Church in Action (Protestant Church in
the Netherlands).
Studying Global
Pentecostalism
Th eories and Methods
Edited by
Allan Anderson, Michael Bergunder,
André Droogers, and
Cornelis van der Laan
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
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© 2010 by Th e Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Studying global Pentecostalism : theories and methods / edited by
Allan Anderson . . . [et al.].
p. cm.—(Th e anthropology of christianity ; 10)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-0-520-26661-2 (cloth : alk. paper)
isbn 978-0-520-26662-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Pentecostalism—Congresses. I. Anderson, Allan.
BR1644.S79 2010
270.8′2—dc22 2010003229
Manufactured in the United States of America
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CONTENTS
List of Abbreviations vii
Introduction 1
PART ONE. INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES
1. Varieties, Taxonomies, and Defi nitions 13
Allan Anderson
2. Essentialist and Normative Approaches 30
André Droogers
3. Th e Cultural Turn 51
Michael Bergunder
4. Gender and Power 74
Elizabeth Brusco
5. Conversion Narratives 93
Henri Gooren
6. Pentecostalism and Globalization 113
Birgit Meyer
PART TWO. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
7. Psychology of Religion 133
Stefan Huber and Odilo W. Huber
8. Anthropology of Religion 156
Joel Robbins
9. Sociology of Religion 179
Stephen Hunt
10. Historical Approaches 202
Cornelis van der Laan
PART THREE. THEOLOGY
11. Pneumatologies in Systematic Th eology 223
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
12. Missiology and the Interreligious Encounter 245
Amos Yong and Tony Richie
13. Practical Th eology 268
Mark J. Cartledge
14. Ecumenism 286
Cecil M. Robeck Jr.
Contributors 309
Index 311
ABBREVIATIONS
AJPS Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies
CoUP Columbia University Press
CPCR Cyberjournal for Pentecostal-Charismatic Research
CUP Cambridge University Press
DPCM Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, ed.
Stanley M. Burgess and Gary McGee, asst. ed. Paul Alexander.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988
EPCRA European Pentecostal Charismatic Research Association
EPTA European Th eological Asscociation
Exchange Exchange: Journal of Missiological and Ecumenical Research
GPH Gospel Publishing House
Glopent European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism
HUP Harvard University Press
IBMR International Bulletin of Missionary Research
IJPR International Journal for the Psychology of Religion
IMR International Review of Mission
IUP Indiana University Press
IVP Inter Varsity Press
JBV Journal of Belief and Values
JEPTA Journal of the European Th eological Assocation
JES Journal of Ecumenical Studies
JPC Journal of Psychology and Christianity
JP&T Journal of Psychology and Th eology
JPT Journal of Pentecostal Th eology
vii
viii ABBREVIATIONS
JRA Journal of Religion in Africa
JSSR Th e Journal for the Scientifi c Study of Religion
MHRC Mental Health, Religion and Culture
Missiology Missiology: An International Review
NIDPCM New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic
Movements, ed. Stanley M. Burgess, asst. ed. Eduard M. van
der Maas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002
OGS Offi ce of the General Secretary (Springfi eld, Missouri)
OUP Oxford University Press
PentecoStudies PentecoStudies: Online Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of
Pentecostalism and Charismatic Movements
Pneuma Pneuma: Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies
SAP Sheffi eld Academic Press
SPS Society for Pentecostal Studies
UCP University of California Press
Unisa University of South Africa Press
WCC World Council of Churches
Introduction
Allan Anderson, Michael Bergunder, André Droogers,
and Cornelis van der Laan
A RAPIDLY EXPANDING MODALITY
OF CHRISTIANITY
With one estimate of 500 million adherents worldwide, converted in the course
of one century, Pentecostalism has become one of the main branches of Christian-
ity.1 A popular theory locates the origin of Pentecostalism in a 1906 revival meeting
at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. In this community the gift s of the
Holy Spirit—for example, speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecy—were dis-
covered and celebrated. Th ere are reports, however, of the more or less simultane-
ous occurrence of similar movements in other parts of the world. Within a few
years of the 1906 upsurge Pentecostalism had in fact established itself worldwide.
Today the majority of Pentecostal believers are found in non-Western countries,
especially in the Global South. In the short history of its existence, Pentecostalism
has reshaped the face of Christianity and has also developed a rich and varied
repertoire of doctrines, rituals, strategies, and organizations, which makes it dif-
fi cult to generalize about the phenomenon.
Without losing its identity and despite its stereotypical reputation as a move-
ment of conservative orthodox Christians, Pentecostalism has shown a remark-
able ability to adapt to diverse cultural contexts. Th rough its adaptability, its
impact has been global, both in its geographic distribution and in its presence as
a religious movement capable of producing local versions of its universal message.
As a successful global movement, it has served to give its many converts the pos-
sibility of integrating into the widening modernized world. In Pentecostalism they
have found the means to facilitate their adaptation to the increasing scale of
1