Harvey Cox describes Pentecostalism as the fascinating spiritual child of our time that has the potential, at the global scale, to contribute to the reshaping of religion in the twenty-first century. This study grounds such sentiments by examining at the local scale the origin, development and nature of Pentecostalism in Ireland in its first twenty years. Illustrative, in a paradigmatic way, of how Pentecostalism became established within one region of the British Isles, it sets the story within the wider context of formative influences emanating from America, Europe and in particular, other...

While he is well known for his life-long fascination with the nature of religious experience, the colonial American pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards is seldom associated with a specifically trinitarian spirituality. This study explores the central connection Edwards drew between his doctrines of religious experience and the Trinity: the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Edwards envisioned the Spirit's inter-trinitarian work as the affectionate bond of union between the Father and the Son, a work which, he argued, is reduplicated in a finite way in the work of redemption. Salvation is...

Jesus's words in John 17 represent one of the church's highest values "May they all be one as you and I Father are one." Yet divisions occur from the highest levels of the church to street level projects often neutralizing effectiveness and undercutting the credibility of Jesus's message. This book helps any believer turn the ideal of John 17 into reality. It provides solid grounding in the principles of partnership abundant case histories and empowering "how to" suggestions for lay person and ministry leader alike.

Was the nineteenth-century working class as irreligious as the 1851 census of religious worship appeared to show? Or were there some industrial areas where large numbers of them actually went to church? Birmingham and the Black Country provide evidence for both religion and irreligion, but was the better church attendance of the Black Country the result of panic reactions to cholera epidemics or intensive evangelism? How did ordinary people respond to the attempts of the churches to recruit them? Did evangelical conversion result from fear of hell? This book sets out to answer these questions...

Drawing extensively on primary sources this pioneer work in modern religious history explores the training of preachers the construction of sermons and how Irish evangelicalism and the wider movement in Great Britain and the United States shaped the preaching event. Evangelical preaching and politics sectarianism denominations education class social reform gender and revival are examined to advance the argument that evangelical sermons and preaching went significantly beyond religious discourse. The result is a book for those with interests in Irish history culture and belief popular religion...

This groundbreaking book challenges decades of misrepresentation of Christian Zionism and questionable theology, exploding the myth that J. N. Darby stole the doctrine of the pretribulation rapture from his contemporaries. By revealing the truth behind the man and his message, Paul Wilkinson vindicates Darby and spotlights the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ as the center piece of his theology.

In his provocative book offers a revisionist history of the trans-denominational initiatives of English evangelicals from 1965 to 2000. 'Based on inside knowledge as well as telling statistics and sound sociological method Rob Warner's study of English evangelicals in the late 20th century tells a masterly though sobering tale of an era of evangelical entrepreneurs who had great success in gather- ing together the evangelical clans but suffered from a seeming in- ability to separate reality from hype, or what Dr Warner calls 'vision inflation'. The book is a must for every serious...

This book uses considerable primary material to examine movements of spirituality found within evangelical Protestantism between the First and Second World Wars. It analyses the way in which different patterns of devotion led to tensions and divisions between those holding a common commitment to the Bible, the cross of Christ, conversion and active Christian service. The chapters provide contrast between conservative views of spiritual experience, orientated to the past, and progressive forces, which were forward looking. It looks at evangelical Anglicanism, Wesleyan holiness streams of...

This study explores the controversial relationship between B.W. Newton and J.N. Darby, two of the principal leaders of the early Brethren movementDarby's eschatological views had far-reaching effects on evangelicalism and Burnham explores the development of his prophetic system and his biblical literalism which led to his distinctive views on pretribulational, premillenial dispensationalism. While having much in common with Darby, Newton departed from him on key points.In many ways, Newton and Darby were products of their times, and this study of their relationship provides insight not only...

During the last 40 years a considerable amount of scholarly attention has been given to John Wesley's way of doing theology. There is extensive debate within Wesleyan circles (particularly in North America) regarding the conception and utility of his theological method, usually identified as the Wesleyan quadrilateral (Scripture, reason, traditi...