Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity explores the fastest growing movements in Christianity, with numbers second only to the Roman Catholic Church. While "peoples of the Spirit" have appeared throughout Christian history, their real growth has occurred over the past century. Because of their late emergence, they are the continuing subject of religious and social science research. The volume is separated into these categories:?Pentecostals: those who belong to a classical pentecostal denomination, such as the Church of God in Christ, the Assemblies of God, and the International Church of the Four Square Gospel.?Charismatics: those who belong to mainline Christian denominations, such as Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, and Presbyterian, who share with classical pentecostals similar worship styles, spiritual experiences, and an emphasis on "life in the (Holy) Spirit."?Neo-charismatics: a catch-all category that comprises 18,810 independent, indigenous, postdenominational denominations and groups that cannot be classified as either pentecostal or charismatic, but share a common emphasis on the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, pentecostal-like experiences (not pentecostal terminology), signs and wonders, and power encounters. In virtually every other way, neo-charismatics are as diverse as the world's cultures they represent.The articles in the encyclopedia were developed around a set of themes, including the origins of the various branches and traditions of Pentecostalism; cultural and theological diversity; ecumenical relations with the broader Christian world; conflict between Pentecostals and charismatics; the sociology of Pentecostalism, including the role of women and the place of the poor; and the impact of past and present political and economic conditions on these movements.This volume is a companion to another volume in the Religion & Society series, the Encyclopedia of Fundamentalism edited by Brenda Brasher. Although the two movements separated early in the twentieth century, they are often confused. Side by side, these two volumes explain the differences between these two major religious movements of the contemporary world.