Allan H Anderson

The growth of Christianity in the global South is one of the most important religious stories of the last decade. In no branch of Christianity has that growth been more rapid than Pentecostalism. There are over 100 million Pentecostals in Africa, and Pentecostal practices infuse Catholic, Anglican, and Independent churches. In the traditional Catholic stronghold of Latin America, Pentecostalism now vies with Catholicism for the soul of the continent. And the largest Pentecostsal church in the world, with over 800,000 members, is in Seoul. In To the Ends of the Earth, Allan Anderson offers a historical and theological examination of the growth of global Pentecostalism. Examining such issues as revivalism, healing, gender, worship, and globalization, Anderson seeks to show how the growth of global Pentecostalism is changing the face of Christianity as a whole.

The growth of Christianity in the global South is one of the most important religious stories of the last decade. In no branch of Christianity has that growth been more rapid than Pentecostalism. There are over 100 million Pentecostals in Africa, and Pentecostal practices infuse Catholic, Anglican, and Independent churches. In the traditional Catholic stronghold of Latin America, Pentecostalism now vies with Catholicism for the soul of the continent. And the largest Pentecostsal church in the world, with over 800,000 members, is in Seoul. In To the Ends of the Earth, Allan Anderson offers a historical and theological examination of the growth of global Pentecostalism. Examining such issues as revivalism, healing, gender, worship, and globalization, Anderson seeks to show how the growth of global Pentecostalism is changing the face of Christianity as a whole.

In The Supernatural and the Circuit Riders, Rimi Xhemajli shows how a small but passionate movement grew and shook the religious world through astonishing signs and wonders. Beginning in the late eighteenth century, early American Methodist preachers, known as circuit riders, were appointed to evangelize the American frontier by presenting an experiential gospel: one that featured extraordinary phenomena that originated from God's Spirit. In employing this evangelistic strategy of the gospel message fueled by supernatural displays, Methodism rapidly expanded. Despite beginning with only ten official circuit riders in the early 1770s, by the early 1830s, circuit riders had multiplied and caused Methodism to become the largest American denomination of its day. In investigating the significance of the supernatural in the circuit rider ministry, Xhemajli provides a new historical perspective through his eye-opening demonstration of the correlation between the supernatural and the explosive membership growth of early American Methodism, which fueled the Second Great Awakening. In doing so, he also prompts the consideration of the relevance and reproduction of such acts in the American church today.

Lee advocates a ""theology of hope,"" essentially different from the Moltmann version on which the idea is developed. Lee shows how Cho's message, particularly in its promise of a ""saved"" healthy, happy and prosperous life (the ""Threefold Blessing""), was the antidote to the events that had ravaged the Korean peninsula in the 1950s. At the same time, Asian Pentecostal scholars might also need a greater appreciation for both the diversity and richness of their cultural and religious past. . . . They] have found both culturally and biblically acceptable alternatives to, and adaptations from, the practices of their ancient religions and are seeking to provide answers to the needs of their own context. --Allan H. Anderson, University of Birmingham, England (From the Foreword) ""Sang Yun Lee provides with this monograph the definitive theological apologetic for the 'blessing theology' of contemporary Korean Pentecostalism. . . ."" --Amos Yong, Professor of Theology & Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary ""This book presents a timely and yet bold plan for the recontextualization and reinterpretation of the Full Gospel theology of hope, expressed in Threefold Blessing."" --Wonsuk Ma, Distinguished Professor of Global Christianity, Oral Roberts University ""Engaging the reader in the historical, soteriological, pneumatological, eco-theological, and socio-theological perspectives of a revitalized Korean theology, this book calls for a broad renewal of the role of the church as a catalyst for social transformation that changes the way we see salvation, prosperity, and healing."" --Wolfgang Vondey, University of Birmingham, author of Pentecostal Theology: Living the Full Gospel ""This is a breathtakingly thorough treatment of the Korean context for doing theology. Anyone interested in either Pentecostal or Korean theology cannot afford to ignore this important work. I learned much from it."" --Frank D. Macchia, Professor of Christian Theology, Vanguard University Sang Yun Lee, PhD (University of Birmingham), teaches at Hansei University and is a member of the pastoral staff at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea. He is married to Sarah Nayung Bae and they have three children.

Lee advocates a ""theology of hope,"" essentially different from the Moltmann version on which the idea is developed. Lee shows how Cho's message, particularly in its promise of a ""saved"" healthy, happy and prosperous life (the ""Threefold Blessing""), was the antidote to the events that had ravaged the Korean peninsula in the 1950s. At the same time, Asian Pentecostal scholars might also need a greater appreciation for both the diversity and richness of their cultural and religious past. . . . They] have found both culturally and biblically acceptable alternatives to, and adaptations from, the practices of their ancient religions and are seeking to provide answers to the needs of their own context. --Allan H. Anderson, University of Birmingham, England (From the Foreword) ""Sang Yun Lee provides with this monograph the definitive theological apologetic for the 'blessing theology' of contemporary Korean Pentecostalism. . . ."" --Amos Yong, Professor of Theology & Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary ""This book presents a timely and yet bold plan for the recontextualization and reinterpretation of the Full Gospel theology of hope, expressed in Threefold Blessing."" --Wonsuk Ma, Distinguished Professor of Global Christianity, Oral Roberts University ""Engaging the reader in the historical, soteriological, pneumatological, eco-theological, and socio-theological perspectives of a revitalized Korean theology, this book calls for a broad renewal of the role of the church as a catalyst for social transformation that changes the way we see salvation, prosperity, and healing."" --Wolfgang Vondey, University of Birmingham, author of Pentecostal Theology: Living the Full Gospel ""This is a breathtakingly thorough treatment of the Korean context for doing theology. Anyone interested in either Pentecostal or Korean theology cannot afford to ignore this important work. I learned much from it."" --Frank D. Macchia, Professor of Christian Theology, Vanguard University Sang Yun Lee, PhD (University of Birmingham), teaches at Hansei University and is a member of the pastoral staff at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea. He is married to Sarah Nayung Bae and they have three children.

Pentekostalism är en stor och globalt spridd kristen rörelse som särskilt betonar vikten av karismatiska gåvor som förknippas med den heliga Anden, till exempel helande och profeterande. Den är den form av religion som växer allra snabbast, antalet deltagare världen över antas uppgå till ungefär en halv miljard. I boken skildras de första hundra årens utveckling på alla kontinenter. Termen pentekostalism förstås här i vid mening och därför beskrivs här såväl klassiska pentekostaler (Pingtsrörelsen) såväl som katolska och lutherska karismatiska kristna och nypentekostaler som Livets Ord och liknande grupper. Boken är unik med sin utpräglat globala inriktningen. Allan H. Anderson är verksam som professor i Global Pentecostal Studies vid Birmingham universitet. David Westerlund är professor i religionsvetenskap vid Södertörns högskola.