One of the most significant transformations in twentieth-century Christianity is the emergence and development of Pentecostalism. With over five hundred million followers, it is the fastest-growing movement in the world. An incredibly diverse movement, it has influenced many sectors of Christianity, flourishing in Africa, Latin America, and Asia and having an equally significant effect on Canada.
Bringing together a previously scattered and somewhat hidden literature, Canadian Pentecostalism provides the first comprehensive overview of the subject. The collection is broad in focus, examining classical Pentecostalism, charismatic movements in the Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant traditions, and neo-Pentecostalism. Contributing authors examine historical debates about the origins of the movement, the response of Pentecostalism to institutionalization and globalization, and the roles of women, indigenous peoples, and immigrants within the Canadian movement.
Review quotes
“Canadian Pentecostalism represents the single best scholarly assessment of Canadian Pentecostalism to date. Its avoidance of disciplinary myopia by giving due attention to the historical, theological, and social facets of Canadian Pentecostalism will appeal to scholars from a range of disciplines and paves a broad path for future research into this understudied segment of the global Pentecostal movement.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion “What makes this volume so significant are the broad categories of investigation: history, sociology, cultural and religious studies, and theology. … With this collection of disparate yet interconnected essays, the editor has provided a useful service to both Pentecostals, as they think about their origins and prospects, and non-Pentecostals desiring to understand the presence and growing influence of Pentecostals.” Faith Today
Michael Wilkinson is associate professor of sociology, and director of the Religion in Canada Institute, Trinity Western University.
