Charismatic Christianity as a Global Culture

The movement that began in the first century currently spans the globe. The term charismatic refers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit - speaking in tongues, healing, prophecy, and discernment - said to be available to Christians who have surrendered their lives to Christ. This book takes readers on a journey to discover the history of the movement and the reasons why more and more Christians are finding the experience so meaningful. In this important work, leading scholars in the fields of religion and anthropology discuss the thought patterns and religious traditions of charismatics throughout the world. By examining believers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe, the contributors provide a comprehensive overview of a tapestry that appears to transcend national, ethnic, racial, and class boundaries. In her introduction, Karla Poewe remarks that the most important aspect of Christianity is its emphasis on a personal relationship with God and neighbor. Believers attempt to integrate mind, body, and spirit, thereby providing for a more holistic religious experience. Poewe points out that Christianity and Pentecostalism have suffered from academic biases in the past; this book is one of the first to place the experience in an academic framework. Charismatic Christianity as a Global Culture will appeal to students and specialists in several fields, including religious studies, anthropology, and sociology. Christians of all denominations will discover much of interest in this book, and charismatics will find its inclusiveness appealing.