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University of California Press

About the Book

With its remarkable ability to adapt to many different cultures, Pentecostalism has become the world’s fastest growing religious movement. More than five hundred million adherents worldwide have reshaped Christianity itself. Yet some fundamental questions in the study of global Pentecostalism, and even in what we call “Pentecostalism,” remain largely unaddressed. Bringing together leading scholars in the social sciences, history, and theology, this unique volume explores these questions for this rapidly growing, multidisciplinary field of study. A valuable resource for anyone studying new forms of Christianity, it offers insights and guidance on both theoretical and methodological issues.

The first section of the book examines such topics as definitions, essentialism, postcolonialism, gender, conversion, and globalization. The second section features contributions from those working in psychology, anthropology, sociology, and history. The third section traces the boundaries of theology from the perspectives of pneumatology, ecumenical studies, inter-religious relations, and empirical theology.

About the Author

Allan Anderson is Professor of Global Pentecostal Studies at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Michael Bergunder is Professor of History of Religions and Mission Studies at the University of Heidelberg. André Droogers is Professor Emeritus of Cultural Anthropology at the VU University Amsterdam. Cornelis van der Laan is Professor of Pentecostal Studies in the Faculty of Theology at VU University Amsterdam.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations
Introduction

PART ONE. INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES

1. Varieties, Taxonomies, and Definitions
Allan Anderson

2. Essentialist and Normative Approaches
André Droogers

3. The Cultural Turn
Michael Bergunder

4. Gender and Power
Elizabeth Brusco

5. Conversion Narratives
Henri Gooren

6. Pentecostalism and Globalization
Birgit Meyer

PART TWO. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

7. Psychology of Religion
Stefan Huber and Odilo W. Huber

8. Anthropology of Religion
Joel Robbins

9. Sociology of Religion
Stephen Hunt

10. Historical Approaches
Cornelis van der Laan

PART THREE. THEOLOGY

11. Pneumatologies in Systematic Theology
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen

12. Missiology and the Interreligious Encounter
Amos Yong and Tony Richie

13. Practical Theology
Mark J. Cartledge

14. Ecumenism
Cecil M. Robeck Jr.

Contributors
Index

Reviews

"An indispensable reference work."
Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies
""A remarkable working tool drawing the various tracks implemented by a still young but promising university research."
Istina: Center for Ecumenical Studies Review
“A welcome and valuable addition to the study of this exciting phenomenon that has significantly reshaped today’s Christianity.”
Suomen Antropologi: Journal of the Finnish Anthropological Society