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An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity
Pentecostalism has become the fastest growing Christian movement, particularly outside Europe, and Allan Heaton Anderson is one of the foremost scholars of this phenomenon. His innovative interpretation of Pentecostalism focuses on the serious contribution made by both western and Majority World participants in its development. In this second edition of his leading introductory course book, Anderson presents an updated global history of the movement, which addresses significant events and changes in recent years, and surveys important theoretical issues such as gender and society, as well as politics and economics. The book also offers a comprehensive explanation of the significance of Charismatic Christianity throughout the world, plus its effect upon the globalisation of religion and its transformation in the present century. This new edition will be an important resource for those studying Pentecostalism, Charismatic Christianity, theology and sociology of religion.
- GenresHistory
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 9, 2026
This is probably the best overview of Pentecostalism currently available. The author has written a comprehensive introduction. Covering much of the same ground as William Kay's very short introduction, Andesron gives considerably more depth in each case, but also casts the net wider.
Concentrating on history and theology, Anderson traces how the movement has developed and diversified around the world, taking seriously the contributions of the Majority World rather than treating Pentecostalism as an essentially North American export. In doing so he explores key themes such as spirituality, theological distinctives, relations with other churches, and the movement’s entanglement with modernisation and globalisation.
A central historiographical claim in the book is that Pentecostalism’s origins are multi-polar, with significant centres of early revival and innovation arising independently in different locations, even when Azusa Street remains symbolically important.
William Seymour and the Azusa Street revival are still presented at length, but there is no shying away from the contribution of Charles Fox Parham. Azusa street's inter-racial character is contextualised with Parham's contributions and later events. Anderson shows how early moments of interracial fellowship and theologies of Spirit-inspired equality were constrained by persistent white racism and the later drift of Pentecostal institutions toward segregation. The result is a nuanced portrayal of American Pentecostalism as both a space of racial challenge and a movement marked by the limits of that challenge.
The book’s treatment of British Pentecostalism is similarly framed within this multi-centred global story. Anderson highlights the Welsh Revival of 1904–5 as a crucial catalyst, sowing the spiritual and liturgical seeds for later British Pentecostal churches and shaping a local culture of Spirit-centred worship that predated Azusa Street. He also draws attention to figures such as Alexander Boddy, often regarded as the father of British Pentecostalism, whose ministry at Sunderland helped disseminate Pentecostalism Britain. Anderson shows how British Pentecostalism was rooted in Britain, be it in Welsh mining communities or Anglican parishes. Meanwhile the larger perspective included interracial missions in Los Angeles, and diverse Majority World congregations.
The book succeeds as a sympathetic yet critical introduction that not only maps the growth of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity but also foregrounds questions of race, culture, and power as integral to understanding the movement’s history and theology. It asks questions as to why it has grown and bucked the trend worldwide, growing so fast. It looks at Korea and South America and elsewhere, and it provides a wealth of information about this global phenomenon.
Concentrating on history and theology, Anderson traces how the movement has developed and diversified around the world, taking seriously the contributions of the Majority World rather than treating Pentecostalism as an essentially North American export. In doing so he explores key themes such as spirituality, theological distinctives, relations with other churches, and the movement’s entanglement with modernisation and globalisation.
A central historiographical claim in the book is that Pentecostalism’s origins are multi-polar, with significant centres of early revival and innovation arising independently in different locations, even when Azusa Street remains symbolically important.
William Seymour and the Azusa Street revival are still presented at length, but there is no shying away from the contribution of Charles Fox Parham. Azusa street's inter-racial character is contextualised with Parham's contributions and later events. Anderson shows how early moments of interracial fellowship and theologies of Spirit-inspired equality were constrained by persistent white racism and the later drift of Pentecostal institutions toward segregation. The result is a nuanced portrayal of American Pentecostalism as both a space of racial challenge and a movement marked by the limits of that challenge.
The book’s treatment of British Pentecostalism is similarly framed within this multi-centred global story. Anderson highlights the Welsh Revival of 1904–5 as a crucial catalyst, sowing the spiritual and liturgical seeds for later British Pentecostal churches and shaping a local culture of Spirit-centred worship that predated Azusa Street. He also draws attention to figures such as Alexander Boddy, often regarded as the father of British Pentecostalism, whose ministry at Sunderland helped disseminate Pentecostalism Britain. Anderson shows how British Pentecostalism was rooted in Britain, be it in Welsh mining communities or Anglican parishes. Meanwhile the larger perspective included interracial missions in Los Angeles, and diverse Majority World congregations.
The book succeeds as a sympathetic yet critical introduction that not only maps the growth of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity but also foregrounds questions of race, culture, and power as integral to understanding the movement’s history and theology. It asks questions as to why it has grown and bucked the trend worldwide, growing so fast. It looks at Korea and South America and elsewhere, and it provides a wealth of information about this global phenomenon.
September 25, 2024
With this introduction to global Pentecostalism, Anderson offers a fantastic contribution to the field by showing other origin points to Pentecostalism outside Azusa Street. I appreciate this honoring of American Pentecostalism while also decentering it from the conversation. An excellent scholarly work.
January 20, 2021
More than I deserved to know about this movement and denomination. Really interesting how it has seeped into mainline denominations and the continued push that it makes against certain denominational stances.
November 21, 2016
Having come out of a Pentecostal background, I really enjoyed this book. In my opinion, it fairly evaluated the movement as a whole and gave a comprehensive history which established the background of Pentecostalism and traced the history globally. Anderson's evaluation of the Pentecostal roots in church history was a realistic perspective from a man who was a Pentecostal minister. He seems to have a good grasp of Church History in general, and a passion for the movement globally. I would recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to understand one of the most important Christian revivals in Central America, South America, and Asia in particular.
The weaknesses are a repetitive and slightly bland writing style and many issues that beg expounding are left untouched. Anderson often raises an issue or topic and leaves it there, with the reader wondering what the author thinks about the issue and why he mentioned it. Alongside, that he often repeats certain themes over and over.
Overall, this is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand more about one of the most important global movements in Christianity.
The weaknesses are a repetitive and slightly bland writing style and many issues that beg expounding are left untouched. Anderson often raises an issue or topic and leaves it there, with the reader wondering what the author thinks about the issue and why he mentioned it. Alongside, that he often repeats certain themes over and over.
Overall, this is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand more about one of the most important global movements in Christianity.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews