The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States

This book considers whether Pentecostalism will remain a vibrant religious force in the land of its birth (the U.S.), and if so, what forms it will take. The contributors represent a variety of disciplinary and methodological approaches in answering these questions, often concluding that U.S. Pentecostalism(s) are in decline but able to reform.

One hundred years after the Azusa Street Revival stunned Los Angeles and changed Western Christianity, Pentecostalism has become the fastest growing religious movement in the world. However, many Pentecostal denominations in the United States are in a slow decline. Will Pentecostalism survive in North America in the twenty-first century? If so, what forms will it take? The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States brings together leading scholars of charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity to discuss and forecast these issues. The book looks at American Pentecostalism from a variety of disciplinary perspectives including sociology, theology, history, and the arts. The book also considers various traditions and sub-movements within U.S. Pentecostalism, such as African American Pentecostal and charismatic Latino churches, urban postmodern charismatic congregations, and the role of Pentecostal institutions of higher education.

Chapter 1 Introduction: American Pentecostalism: Challenges and Temptations
Chapter 2 Baptized in the Spirit: A Reflection on the Future of Pentecostal Theology
Chapter 3 Postmodern Pentecostals: Emerging Subcultures Among Young Pentecostal Leaders
Chapter 4 Music in the Pentecostal Movement
Chapter 5 Latinos and North American Pentecostalism
Chapter 6 The Future of Pentecostal Higher Education: the Ring, the Shire, or the Redemption of Middle Earth
Chapter 7 The Symbolic Dilemma and the Future of Pentecostalism: Mysticism, Ritual, and Revival
Chapter 8 The Future of Oneness Pentecostalism
Chapter 9 The Almost Pentecostal: The Future of the Church of God in the United States
Chapter 10 Heritage and Horizons: The Derivation and Destiny of Open Bible Churches
Chapter 11 Race and Religion: The Future of Black American Pentecostalism
Chapter 12 Conclusion: Back to the Future? US Pentecostalism in the 21st Century