neo-Pentecostal Churches Research Articles

Unsafe spaces? An ecclesiological evaluation and response to recent controversial practices in some South African neo-Pentecostal churches

Unsafe spaces? An ecclesiological evaluation and response to recent controversial practices in some South African neo-Pentecostal churches

The Migration of Christian Youth to Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches in Ghana: Implications for Mission Work

Recently, it appears the centre of gravity of Christian youth worldwide has shifted from the traditional or historic mission churches to Pentecostal, Neo-Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. This global phenomenon is also seen in a migration among Ghanaian Christian youth from mission or mainline churches to Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. What accounts for their migration and what could be done to prevent such mass movement? This paper argues that there are many factors that may determine the migration rate of the youth from historic mission churches. Interviews and literature study were the approaches employed for gathering of data. The paper draws attention to the fact that retaining the Ghanaian Christian youth in mission churches has become a major concern in a pluralistic church environment in Ghana. Key Words: Migration, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Historic Mission Churches, Youth

O poder da bíblia: crenças e organização das igrejas evangélicas na política brasileira

Contando com cerca a 50 milhões de fiéis e uma atuação organizada, os evangélicos se tornaram um ator importante na política brasileira, capaz de eleger representantes, organizar partidos, influenciar ou decidir eleições. Engajados politicamente desde os anos oitenta, após forte crescimento das igrejas neopentecostais, os evangélicos não formam, entretanto, um grupo homogêneo e podem agir de forma conjunta ou não de acordo com seus dogmas ou interesses. Este trabalho busca analisar historicamente o perfil de atuação política dos evangélicos no Brasil e o modo como se organizam e atuam mostrando por uma lado como as crenças servem para justificar e legitimar a participação no jogo eleitoral e, por outro, como o pragmatismo político entra nas igrejas permitindo que elas possam agir como partidos.

Occupying New Spaces: the “Digital Turn” of Afro-Brazilian Religions During the Covid-19 Outbreak

This paper intends to analyze how Afro-Brazilian religious minorities (like Candomblé and Umbanda) are responding to the Covid-19 crisis in Brazil both at a religious and political level. Drawing a comparison between the reactions of Neo-Pentecostal churches and Afro-Brazilian religions, we will describe how the pandemic outbreak and the social distancing measures allowed Afro-religious practitioners to occupy new online spaces. In doing so, these religions found new modalities of practising rituals and transmitting sacred knowledge in the digital world. Despite the fundamental importance of bodily engagement in these religious expressions, Candomblé and Umbanda practitioners are increasing their presence online through producing different types of pedagogical, educational and ritual contents. While on the one hand, this new content aims at promoting social distancing and sanitary precautionary measures, on the other hand, it involves a restructuring of the dynamics of legitimation and power that are present in Afro-religious social structures. We will analyze these changing dynamics as consequences of the “crisis of the body” that resulted from the lockdown measures.

Um panorama do sagrado em Teresina: a territorialização da religião na cidade, Estado do Piauí, Brasil

As religiões assumem papel de destaque frente à formação cultural da sociedade, influenciando na forma do homem se relacionar com o espaço. Desse modo, estudar o espaço urbano considerando a perspectiva do Sagrado possibilita um entendimento particularizado da cidade. Este trabalho tem como recorte de estudo a cidade de Teresina, na contemporaneidade, e intenta compreender como as religiões se territorializam nesta capital. Assim, tem-se como objetivo apresentar um panorama da territorialização das religiões no espaço urbano de Teresina. Foram selecionadas para a pesquisa: as religiões de matriz africana, tais como a Umbanda e o Candomblé; a Igreja Católica; as igrejas evangélicas neopentecostais Assembléia de Deus e Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus; e a Igreja Batista, protestante tradicional. A partir de uma abordagem qualitativa, buscou-se mapear os adensamentos religiosos, descrevendo as territorialidades a fim de ampliar o conhecimento desse índice humano/urbano, por vezes negligenciado, ou subnotificado, contribuindo para a política de planejamento e gestão urbana. Com esse trabalho As religiões assumem papel de destaque frente à formação cultural da sociedade, influenciando na forma do homem se relacionar com o espaço. Desse modo, estudar o espaço urbano considerando a perspectiva do Sagrado possibilita um entendimento particularizado da cidade. Este trabalho tem como recorte de estudo a cidade de Teresina, na contemporaneidade, e intenta compreender como as religiões se territorializam nesta capital. Assim, tem-se como objetivo apresentar um panorama da territorialização das religiões no espaço urbano de Teresina. Foram selecionadas para a pesquisa: as religiões de matriz africana, tais como a Umbanda e o Candomblé; a Igreja Católica; as igrejas evangélicas neopentecostais Assembléia de Deus e Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus; e a Igreja Batista, protestante tradicional. A partir de uma abordagem qualitativa, buscou-se mapear os adensamentos religiosos, descrevendo as territorialidades a fim de ampliar o conhecimento desse índice humano/urbano, por vezes negligenciado, ou subnotificado, contribuindo para a política de planejamento e gestão urbana. Com esse trabalho chegou-se à conclusão que a expressão da religião no espaço transcende a matéria construída, sendo através da vivência dos usuários, ou seja, das suas relações de sociabilidade que se desprende a maior influência do Sagrado. chegou-se à conclusão que a expressão da religião no espaço transcende a matéria construída, sendo através da vivência dos usuários, ou seja, das suas relações de sociabilidade que se desprende a maior influência do Sagrado.

A CONDIÇÃO EVANGÉLICA DA GLOBALIZAÇÃO E A ESTRATÉGIA POLÍTICO-ESPACIAL DA UNIVERSAL DO REINO DE DEUS

O objetivo deste texto é refletir sobre a expressão do pentecostalismo protestante a partir do Brasil. Tem-se como hipótese que o pentecostalismo é uma manifestação social americana, associada às qualidades espaciais da atual globalização, condicionada pela urbanização generalizada. Uma globalização que foi se intensificando no final do século XX, a partir da América e do seu modelo capitalista. Sustentado na hiperprodução de necessidades e mercadorias que transbordam o consumo, esse modelo americano dilatou a urbanização por todos os lados e difundiu valores e comportamentos empreendedores de forma surpreendente, principalmente pela imposição da desregulamentação da economia e do trabalho. Organizado em três partes, este artigo inicialmente apresenta algumas referências conceituais sobre a atual globalização associando-a à urbanização. Em seguida, são apresentados dados sobre o urbano na atualidade para localizar o Brasil nesse contexto. A terceira parte é dedicada ao protestantismo pentecostal, sobretudo ao estudo da dinâmica espacial de uma de suas ramificações, a igreja neopentecostal Universal do Reino de Deus, uma criação eminentemente brasileira que, nascida do subúrbio carioca, em 1977, se estendeu para o mundo. Misturando fé e política e associando formas e estratégias de difusão tradicionais e modernas, a Universal é um excelente exemplo dessas novas manifestações sociais da globalização aos moldes americanos.

Re-enacting identity in the greeting and address pattern among Nigerian Pentecostals

ABSTRACT Using Castell’s Identity theory and Bernard Spolsky’s framework, the study examines how the creative appropriation of linguistic genres in the Nigerian neo-Pentecostal discourses contribute to the construction of a unique identity among its members that differentiates them from non-members. Specifically, it explores the dynamics of religious identities and ideologies in the churches and how they are expressed in greeting and address patterns. The data were collected by interviews and participant observations of church services in three purposefully selected neo-Pentecostal churches located in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria. The churches are; Living Faith Church (LFC), Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM). Findings reveal patterns and functionalities of greeting and address terms prevalent in the churches which beyond phatic communion provide insight on the belief, status and identity of the interlocutors; as well as their intentionality, effect and context-dependent dynamics. The paper reflects the dynamism in address terms among the neo-Pentecostals in Nigeria, which majorly constitute an English-medium religious setting.

“The Prophet Says…”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Mechanisms for Inducing Compliance among Congregants of Neo-Pentecostal Churches in Ghana

There has been a surge in the growth of neo-Pentecostal churches in the Ghanaian context. These churches broadcast their activities through television and are able to reach many people and have mass followers. Their main activities are miracles, healing, prophecies, and teaching. Although studies have been conducted on their activities, little is known of how leaders of these churches influence their followers to adhere to their teachings and doctrines. The present paper explored mechanisms used by church leaders to compel members to be obedient to them and the potential implications on congregants’ well-being, as well as their decision to either stay in or leave the church. Through a thematic analysis of interviews with 20 congregants, it emerged that the nature of the churches’ doctrine, the activities, and the charisma of the leaders are able to influence congregants to remain in or leave the church and to enhance their self-beliefs. Strategies that compelled congregants to remain in the church included techniques that encouraged giving, lifestyle restrictions, reverence of and obedience to church leaders, recruitment of congregants, and spiritual cleansing/fortification. Strategies that inadvertently compelled congregants to leave the church included excessive monetary demands, rigid lifestyle demands, and repeated false or unconfirmed prophecies. A few mechanisms appeared to enhance the well-being of congregants by building self-efficacy and instilling positive lifestyle changes. Implications of the findings are discussed along with the impact of these mechanisms on congregants’ well-being.

Metáfora, Contexto e Incorporação na Retórica Neopentecostal

Segundo Hunt (2000), as igrejas neopentecostais têm como característica central a capacidade de adaptação a contextos espaço-temporais variados. Isto posto, neste artigo trabalhamos com a hipótese de que transformações ocorridas no contexto sociopolítico nacional ao longo de uma década afeta a produção textual-interativa presente em sermões neopentecostais. O foco de nossa atenção está no emprego de metáforas, fundamentais ao sucesso da retórica neopentecostal (MARTINS, 2011; 2015, 2017). Para alcançar os resultados, analisamos a relação entre a conceptualização metafórica da categoria INVESTIMENTO e a incorporação (HANKS, 2008) de mudanças no habitus (BOURDIEU, 1996) do público-alvo em dois cultos, um ministrado no ano de 2007 e outro no ano de 2017. Os resultados apontam que, em 2007, a categoria INVESTIMENTO é conceptualizada em termos determinísticos de um percurso. Já em 2017, o locutor conceituou INVESTIMENTO em termos de uma escolha. Ao longo da análise apontamos possíveis motivações para esta diferença e, em nossa conclusão, sugerimos que na retórica neopentecostal a incorporação do contexto sociopolítico ao discurso produz efeitos na construção de estratégias argumentativas direcionadas à adesão às práticas financeiras, como os dízimos e as ofertas.

Children accused of witchcraft in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Between structural and symbolic violence

In this paper I consider the phenomenon of the “child-witches” in Lubumbashi (Katanga, DRC) as the result of the intertwine of two dynamics: the accusation of children within the sphere of the family and the large number of street children in Congolese cities. On the one hand, witchcraft accusations within the family tend to work in two ways: as a mode of childrenʼs subjugation, exerted especially by pastors in neopentecostal churches; and as a “pragmatic of uncertainty” that allow Congolese families to deal with uncertainties of life, such as sickness, suffering, marital problems, failure, and death. On the other hand, children in the streets of Lubumbashi suggest a witchcraft discourse linked to the symbolic violence that should be read in terms of boundaries, margins, and liminality: street children are associated with witches because they have transgressed basic social norms and they live out of the ordinary social networks (kinship, family, school). In this vein, I propose an ethnographic approach which takes into account the multiform feature of the “child-witches” highlighting the importance of the everyday practices and ordinary objects in family ties definition and witchcraft accusations.

Инкультурация российского неопятидесятничества как механизм формирования религиозной идентичности

The issues of the inculturation of neo-pentecostal churches in multi-confessional environment are considered in the paper. The introductions of the elements of Orthodox worship and Orthodox spiritual culture into the religious practice of Neo-Pentеcostal churches, based on the data from field research carried out in 2015–2017 in Kazan are described. The processes of inculturation at the rite, personal, and worldview level are considered, hypotheses about possible reasons for the conversion of the Pentecostals to master the Orthodox spiritual heritage are put forward. In conclusion the author supposed that the inculturation is not a process of post-Perestroika Russian religious reality, but rather a response to the individualization of religious consciousness in the context of “global Christianity”. The research reveals the problems of religion changing in late modernist society under the influence of glocalization.

ASPECTS OF INCULTURATION OF NEOPENTECOSTALISM IN THE CONDITIONS OF A POLICONFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Purpose: The article discusses aspects of the inculturation of neo-Pentecostal churches in a multi-confessional environment. Methodology: The authors describe the introductions of elements of the Orthodox cult and Orthodox spiritual culture into the religious practice of neo-Pentecostal churches, based on data from field studies conducted in 2015-2017 in Kazan.Results: The article raises issues of changing religion in a late modern society and under the influence of the processes of glocalization and globalization. Applications: This research can be used for universities, teachers, and students. Novelty/Originality: This research is devoted to the problems of inculturation of neo-Pentecostal churches in a multi-confessional environment and religion change issues in the context of glocalization and globalization processes.

Politics in the Temple. Religious Doctrine and Conservative Activism in a Neopentecostal Church in Montevideo. A Brief Approach

This work approaches briefly the relations between politics and religion in the context of the neopentecostal church Mission Life for the Nations, understanding that both are transversal dimensions of human experience. In this way, we can find them imbricated in religious doctrine, such as the Spiritual War, political activism developed in the so called “public sphere”, but also on other aspects of human experience that are usually perceived as “private” from a liberal perspective, such as sexuality. Religious discourses about the world and humans destiny function as narratives that, being adopted by the faithful, are enacted in different spheres of action. In this way, religion cannot be conceived as a separated dimension of the social world. Not merely metaphysical or discursive, as it implies action—or inaction—it involves politics.

Prejudice Against Gender and Sexual Diversity in Brazilian Public High Schools

This paper is the result of a research that evaluated the levels of prejudice against sexual and gender minorities within 28 Brazilian public schools. The research considered a sample of 413 teachers, 97 employees, and 1829 students from 28 public high schools, located in four Brazilian states: Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, Ceara, and Pernambuco. All of them answered a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, the revised version of the Prejudice Against Sexual and Gender Diversity scale. The resulting analysis highlighted that religious individuals and followers of the Neo-Pentecostal church in the three study groups presented higher levels of prejudice than the other groups involved. All groups that have done previous training in the subject of prejudice presented inferior scores to those that had not done. Individuals that stated they have gay man, lesbian woman, travestis persons, or transsexual persons as friends, relatives, and acquaintances in the groups of teachers and students presented a lower level of prejudice compared to those who did not have relationships with people with these characteristics. Our results suggest the need for methodological changes in schools so that institutions can prepare their curriculum and their pedagogical practices considering the current multiple existing sexual and gender orientations.

Использование современной музыки в богослужении неопятидесятнических церквей России

Использование современной музыки в богослужении неопятидесятнических церквей России

Teologia Luterana como desafio ao fundamentalismo religioso e à teologia da prosperidade

Na América Latina e no Caribe, há um crescimento de práticas e ideologias fundamentalistas, muitas vezes associadas a teologias da prosperidade. Assim como no contexto mundial, na América Latina e no Caribe os movimentos de renovação carismática e os de cunho fundamentalista não se restringem às igrejas pentecostais ou neopentecostais, mas estão presentes em todas as denominações cristãs. Um dos aspectos desse fundamentalismo é o legalismo bíblico. A centralidade da Bíblia – a premissa “sola Scriptura” (somente a Escritura) desenvolvida por Lutero – é erroneamente associada a teologias que defendem a inerrância bíblica e usam as Escrituras de modo legalista. Apesar de estar em continuidade histórica com o movimento da Reforma, tanto o fundamentalismo como a ênfase na prosperidade representam rupturas bíblico-teológicas. Uma análise mais detalhada da hermenêutica luterana e de sua teologia demonstra que os princípios da Reforma oferecem uma crítica contundente tanto ao fundamentalismo religioso como à teologia da prosperidade.

Enquêter sur la sexualité des néo-pentecotistes de la région parisienne

L’objectif de cet article est de discuter des enjeux méthodologiques et épistémologiques d’une recherche menée parmi les converti·es·s néo-pentecôtistes de la région parisienne. L’étude revient sur les conditions d’enquêtes menées au sein d’églises néo-pentecôtistes fréquentées majoritairement par des migrants africano-caribéens et leurs descendants, mettant en évidence l’ambivalence et les jeux de positionnements du chercheur. En cherchant à signaler en quoi les implications de l’ethnographe sur le terrain des religions, mais surtout en quoi sa proximité ethnique, culturelle, religieuse, voire sociale avec le milieu enquêté sont heuristiques pour les études sur le fait religieux, l’auteure montre comment la méthode basée sur le dévoilement de soi et la technique du cas par cas permettent de repenser plus largement la notion classique de « bonne distance » au cœur de la relation ethnographique.

“I'm Here Because of Christ and Worshipping God …”

Many people like to identify as belonging to one church or another. Previous studies have explored the process of switching from one religious group to another, and this process has identified various factors that determine the likelihood and reasons for switching. Although this has been explored, little is known about the factors that influence switching among charismatic Christians in Ghana, and the potential implications of such switching on mental well-being. Our study therefore explored the reasons given by members of selected neo-Pentecostal/charismatic churches in Ghana for their decision to switch to these churches. The study was conducted in six neo-Pentecostal churches in Accra and Kumasi through the use of individual and focus group interviews as well as observations of church activities. A total of 86 respondents cited reasons such as geographic mobility, marriage, answers to prayer, as well as miracles and prophecies as their determining factors. These are discussed with emphasis on the potential implications for mental health such as psychological distress, blind faith, and individual agency.

The unusual practices within some Neo-Pentecostal churches in South Africa: Reflections and recommendations

This article reflects and makes recommendations on the recent unusual practices within some Neo-Pentecostal churches in South Africa. Neo-Pentecostal churches in South Africa refer to churches that have crossed denominational boundaries. These churches idolise the miraculous, healing, deliverance and enactment of bizarre church performances often performed by charismatic and highly influential spiritual leaders. There have been unusual practices within some Neo-Pentecostal churches that include, among others, the eating of grass, eating of snakes, drinking of petrol, spraying of Doom on the congregants and other experiences. There are many possible theological, psychological and socio-economic explanations for these unusual practices. Given the facts that many South Africans experience various socio-economic challenges, it is argued here that the socio-economic factor is the main explanation for the support of these unusual practices. The unusual practices within some Neo-Pentecostal churches in South Africa are critically unpacked by looking at various churches where the incidents happened. The possible theological, psychological and socio-economic explanations for such practices are outlined in detail. Recommendations are made based on the scientific findings on the unusual practices.

Planning and management in the Missional agenda of the 21st Century Church: A study of Lighthouse Chapel International

Planning and management is an important aspect of every successful organisation. In a similar way as the church participates in the missio Dei, it is essential that we consider planning and management as part of the missional tools for the management of the various resources God has given the church. Doing this, church leadership must join in with the Father (God) and the Holy Spirit to know what he wants to accomplish in their context as they plan and manage God�s resources for missional purposes. In the light of this understanding, the article discusses the role of �planning and management in the missional agenda of the 21st century church� by using one of the fastest growing Neo-Pentecostal churches in Ghana, the Lighthouse Chapel International, as a case study. The central argument in this paper is that although leadership has a major role to play in missional planning, it is however a holistic and all-inclusive agenda. Missional planning includes the involvement of the Holy Spirit, congregational leadership, the entire congregation and the various resources the church is being endowed with by God.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The study is an interdisciplinary study between Missiology, Planning, and Management. The result from the study will enhance the Ecclesiastical Community to appreciate the importance of management and planning as they participate in the missio Dei.