Pentecostalism in America

(Hardback)

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Description

This book offers a chronological and historical overview the many forms of Pentecostalism within the United States. Pentecostalism is a poorly understood theological movement, despite its recent growth in popularity as well as social and political importance. More and more Americans are encountering neighbors, friends, coworkers, and even political leaders who are aligned with one of the many varieties of American Pentecostalism. In spite of this proliferation, no complete survey of 2lst-century American Pentecostalism exists. In Pentecostalism in America, author R. G. Robins offers an accessible survey of Pentecostalism in the United States, providing a clear, nontechnical introduction and making this complex and rapidly changing movement comprehensible to the general reader. A historical approach to the topic is presented, guiding the reader through the theological, social, and liturgical variants within American Pentecostalism and its major branches, organizations, and institutions; the movement's relation to its offspring; as well as how Pentecostal groups compare to parallel movements in contemporary American Christianity.

Reviews

As much a work of cultural as of religious history, this slim book ranks as one of the definitive studies of the movement. It is hard to say which is most impressive: the breadth of the research, the elegance of the writing, or the astuteness of the insights. It represents the art of critical empathy at its best. * Christian Century *
This easy and delightful read should prove accessible for general audiences and undergraduate students. * Religious Studies Review *

Author Bio

R. G. Robins, PhD, is a Fulbright Scholar and associate professor with specialization in American Studies at the University of Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan.