Winner of the Award of Excellence of the Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship 2010. The teaching of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland that Jesus 'died spiritually' (JDS) is important because of the influence of these men, not least on Pentecostalism. JDS originated with Kenyon, and has been taught in the Word-faith movement by Hagin and Copeland, despite much criticism. It incorporates three elements: in this death, Jesus was separated from God; partook of a satanic nature; and was Satan's prey. This theological appraisal takes research far further than previous works, both in method and in...

Building on long-time research and extensive interviews, this ground-breaking study offers a portrait of pentecostal / charismatic immigrants from the global South who do not define themselves as victims but as expatriate agents with a calling to change Europe.

This book develops an ecclesiological method used to describe and analyse the transitions in culture and structure of Australian Pentecostal churches during the course of the twentieth century. These changes provide a case study of global developments in Pentecostalism

The doctrine and practice of healing through faith has been a hallmark of Pentecostalism since its inception and helps to account for the widespread appeal of the movement. While "divine healing," as it is called by insiders, has brought hope to the sick, it has also been a source of disenchantment and controversy. The present study offers a close look at the teaching of four major ministers of healing in the twentieth-century United States. The author distinguishes between the healing evangelists and pastoral ministers of healing who react to them. This book discusses in detail the merits of...

The global phenomenon of Pentecostal growth continues to interest scholars, particularly its local manifestations. Although previous explanations may have noted the connections between the cultural substrata and local Pentecostal practices, this book concentrates on seeking out the connections. Using both extensive field research and reflection on Latin American scholarship, the author proposes that a major link exists at the level of worldview assumptions, particularly in understandings of spiritual power. The book concludes with a reflection on the implications a conversion based on the...

In Lewi Pethrus' Ecclesiological Thought 1911-1974: A Transdenominational Pentecostal Ecclesiology, Tommy Davidsson presents a chronological survey of the ecclesiology of the Swedish Pentecostal pioneer, Lewi Pethrus (1884-1974). The presentation is the first study of its kind and it demonstrates by means of a historical analysis the underlying factors that contributed to the formation of ecclesiological beliefs among Pentecostals. The insights from the historical analysis are then applied to a global setting. By employing Roger Haight's Transdenominational Ecclesiology, Davidsson...

During the 1980s an explosion of Pentecostalism across Latin America attracted considerable attention among sociologists, political scientists and regional experts, eventually spreading to other academic disciplines. Indeed, ongoing spectacular growth and the social and political impact of the movement have strongly challenged secularization theory. Yet while studies exploring the phenomenon are plentiful, many limit their analysis to a single country, issue or the perspective of a particular discipline. Thus, this edited volume provides readers with a multidisciplinary and continent-wide...

During the early twentieth century in China, a number of key economic leaders converted to Christianity. Whilst strongly influenced by cultural heritage, powerful modernizing forces and tumultuous political changes, the new Christian identity inculcated by Protestant missionaries motivated these entrepreneurs to modify their business practices, improve their social environment and extend the influence of Christianity. Protestant and Catholic sojourners likewise made significant contributions into their adopted communities. With unprecedented economic growth in China today, a fascinating...

Why do some late modern churches grow, counter to the trend in Western Europe? Why do people identify with such churches - and does identification lead to morally transforming commitments beyond late modern consumerism? This case study investigates these questions based on 'real life' or empirical research, which include both the level of individual life strategies and organisational practice in two growing European churches. This innovative and interdisciplinary study draws on recent findings in theology, moral philosophy, sociology and organisational psychology. Its findings may prove...

Starting from small numbers before 1914, the Pentecostal and charismatic movement now comprises nearly one third of the whole of the global Christian population. Scholarly accounts of Pentecostal and charismatic congregations in various countries have been written but this book does something new. It provides an interconnected account of Pentecostalism in Europe, something never before been attempted because of the diversity of languages spoken across the continent. This book shows how Pentecostalism spread from the north of Europe and how it fared during two horrific wars and under communist...