GLOBAL PENTECOSTALISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY. Edited by Robert W. Hefner.
University of Indiana Press. 2013. Pp. v + 270; paper.
University of Indiana Press. 2013. Pp. v + 270; paper.
This edited volume offers the reader excellent coverage on a range
of issues about the social, cultural, and political aspects of
Pentecostalism. With contributions from
sociologists, anthropologists, and religion scholars, the editor has brought
together some of the top experts in the field with cases from most regions of
the world including Brazil, Zimbabwe, China, Russia, Ukraine, India, and the
Philippines. The chapters include rich empirical findings, theoretical
sophistication, and debates in the literature about the social and political
impact of Pentecostals, its civic and public role, why Pentecostalism is or is
not growing, issues of institutionalization, relationship to the varieties of
modernity, and impact on family and gender issues. The Introduction offers a
solid overview of how the volume contributes to the scholarly work to date on
global Pentecostalism and a response by Peter Berger addresses the main issues
raised about modernity, religion, and public engagement.
The volume is a project of the Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs (CURA) at Boston University and focuses especially on how
Pentecostals, now more established in the world, engage culture and social institutions.
This book represents an important study of how Pentecostals have shifted from
an anti-modern stance to a more confident view of their place in the world.
CURA was started by the eminent sociologist of religion, Peter Berger and has
included projects with David Martin and Bernice Martin. I highly recommend this
volume.
Comments