Description
This paper is made up of three sections of unequal length. It begins with an overview of historical writing on Pentecostalism and then, in the longest section, summarises empirical social science work on glossolalia before considering the statistics relating to the size and composition of the Pentecostal (or Pentecostal/Charismatic) movement. It shows how historical writing has changed in character since Pentecostals gained access to higher education; how empirical studies of glossolalia have been influenced by cultural values and fashions; it commends, but asks questions about, the larger statistical coverage of the globalised Pentecostal movement. It suggests that a synthesis of studies from several disciplines may be enriching and beneficial in future.
"AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SYNOPSIS OF STUDIES ON PENTECOSTALISM"
This paper is made up of three sections of unequal length. It begins with an overview of historical writing on Pentecostalism and then, in the longest section, summarises empirical social science work on glossolalia before considering the statistics relating to the size and composition of the Pentecostal (or Pentecostal/Charismatic) movement. It shows how historical writing has changed in character since Pentecostals gained access to higher education; how empirical studies of glossolalia have been influenced by cultural values and fashions; it commends, but asks questions about, the larger statistical coverage of the globalised Pentecostal movement. It suggests that a synthesis of studies from several disciplines may be enriching and beneficial in future.
