The Challenge of the Pentecostals in Asia Part One: Pentecostal Movements in Asia

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction by the Managing Editor: John Mansford Prior SVD wrote an essay for the Asian Convention of the Pontifical Council for Culture planned for Jogyakarta, Indonesia, in June 12-17, 2006. The essay starts with a survey of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements in five Asian countries. Subsequently Prior reviews a growing awareness of 'sects and new religious movements' in church documents. Then he looks at how social science understands the 'rise of the sects' before he takes up the pastoral challenge to link the dynamism of Pentecostal/charismatic movements with the social conscience of basic ecclesial communities. The editing board of Exchange was impressed by the content of the essay and considered it to be of great importance to the readership of the journal. However, the essay was too long to be published in one issue. Therefore it is decided to divide it into parts. The first part gives the overview of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in Asia and the second part deals with the reaction of the Asian mainline churches, in particular the Roman Catholic Church. Part two will be published in the next issue.