The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States

by Eric Patterson Regent University (Editor), Edmund Rybarczyk (Editor), Kimberly Ervin Alexander (Contribution by), David K. Bernard (Contribution by), David Cole (Contribution by)

Overview

One hundred years after the Azusa Street Revival stunned Los Angeles and changed Western Christianity, Pentecostalism has become the fastest growing religious movement in the world. However, many Pentecostal denominations in the United States are in a slow decline. Will Pentecostalism survive in North America in the twenty-first century? If so, what forms will it take? The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States brings together leading scholars of charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity to discuss and forecast these issues. The book looks at American Pentecostalism from a variety of disciplinary perspectives including sociology, theology, history, and the arts. The book also considers various traditions and sub-movements within U.S. Pentecostalism, such as African American Pentecostal and charismatic Latino churches, urban postmodern charismatic congregations, and the role of Pentecostal institutions of higher education.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739121030
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	11/18/2007
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.07(w) x 9.17(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Eric Patterson is assistant professor of political science at Vanguard University of Southern California. Edmund Rybarczyk is assistant professor of systematic theology at Vanguard University of Southern California.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: American Pentecostalism: Challenges and Temptations
Chapter 2 Baptized in the Spirit: A Reflection on the Future of Pentecostal Theology
Chapter 3 Postmodern Pentecostals: Emerging Subcultures Among Young Pentecostal Leaders
Chapter 4 Music in the Pentecostal Movement
Chapter 5 Latinos and North American Pentecostalism
Chapter 6 The Future of Pentecostal Higher Education: the Ring, the Shire, or the Redemption of Middle Earth
Chapter 7 The Symbolic Dilemma and the Future of Pentecostalism: Mysticism, Ritual, and Revival
Chapter 8 The Future of Oneness Pentecostalism
Chapter 9 "The Almost Pentecostal:" The Future of the Church of God in the United States
Chapter 10 Heritage and Horizons: The Derivation and Destiny of Open Bible Churches
Chapter 11 Race and Religion: The Future of Black American Pentecostalism
Chapter 12 Conclusion: Back to the Future? US Pentecostalism in the 21st Century

Editorial Reviews

This book deserves the time and attention of both insiders and outsiders because of the demonstrated intellectual honesty of the contributors. It offers fresh proposals and gathers in one volume some ideas that were previously shared in miscellaneous documents. The focus on the future makes this work unique, and scholars, ministers, and lay leaders will benefit from reading it.

H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online - David Michel

Regardless of where one standes on these issues, this volume by Patterson and Rybarczyk has given American Pentecostals some important glimpses into the future.

Pneuma 30 - 2008

In The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States, Eric Patterson and Edmund Rybarczyk have gathered a stellar cast of scholars to ponder the future of the movement in the nation of its birth. This history in reverse gives Pentecostals a discerning, critical, and prophetic view of the movement as it enters its second century. This valuable book should be required reading for American Pentecostals and Charismatics as well as for Christians of all traditions who wish to understand this vast and complex movement.

Vinson Synan

Enlightening. This book raises important questions, some of them uncomfortable. As pointed out in the foreword, answers are not always given to the questions raised. The matter, though, is too important not to be reflected upon.

Journal Of The European Pentecostal Theological Association - Jean-Daniel Pluss

Regardless of where one standes on these issues, this volume by Patterson and Rybarczyk has given American Pentecostals some important glimpses into the future.

Pneuma 30

This book deserves the time and attention of both insiders and outsiders because of the demonstrated intellectual honesty of the contributors. It offers fresh proposals and gathers in one volume some ideas that were previously shared in miscellaneous documents. The focus on the future makes this work unique, and scholars, ministers, and lay leaders will benefit from reading it.
— David Michel, Chicago Theological Seminary

H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online

This book deserves the time and attention of both insiders and outsiders because of the demonstrated intellectual honesty of the contributors. It offers fresh proposals and gathers in one volume some ideas that were previously shared in miscellaneous documents. The focus on the future makes this work unique, and scholars, ministers, and lay leaders will benefit from reading it.
— David Michel, Chicago Theological Seminary

H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online