Empirical Studies of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity

Dear Colleagues,

The growth of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity has been phenomenal in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and it shows no sign of abating. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that this form of religion is accelerating in its growth and impact, especially in the global south. The academic study of Pentecostalism has also proliferated in recent years, first focusing on history, then sociology and more recently anthropology and systematic theology. There are a number of vibrant networks of scholars around the world engaged in leading research, and many of them employ empirical methods in order to understand how local congregations navigate their identity in relation to their local context and culture. Building on this recent growth of scholarly interest, this Special Issue focuses attention on how Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians navigate their way in relation to what is often referred to as the “public square”. In different contexts around the world, Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity is finding ways of expressing beliefs, values and practices that challenge existing hegemonic systems and open up new ways of being. With increased pluralism in Western societies, partly due to immigration, cultures from the global south are finding greater expression and influence, which can also cause social tensions as well.

In this scholarly context, this Special Issue aims to explore the significance of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity in relation to aspects of the “public square” (e.g., politics; civil society; arts and entertainment; education and social engagement) using empirical research methods. How do Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians intentionally influence these domains and with what impact? How do other groups with different beliefs and values respond to their increased presence and with what result? The purpose of this Special Issue is to obtain a clearer sense of the impact of this form of religion and the kinds of tensions that its presence produces in different global contexts. This issue builds on the existing literature that considers how Pentecostals and Charismatics are engaging in various public domains through, for example, social engagement, political activism, education, entertainment and the arts.

In order to achieve this purpose, each article will (1) use either qualitative or quantitative research methods or a combination of both; (2) be framed within a clear theoretical framework, for example, anthropology, psychology, sociology or theology; (3) give attention to particular concrete social and cultural contexts; and (4) address aspects of the public understanding of religion.

Prof. Dr. Mark J. Cartledge
Guest Editor

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• pentecostal
• charismatic
• public religion
• empirical research