Preface.
Proposed argument.
1. A Cultural Revolution: Sources, Character, Niches.
2. North America and Europe: Contrasts in Receptivity.
3. Latin America: A Template?.
4. Latin America: Ambiguity in Different Cultural Sectors.
5. Indigenous Peoples.
6. Africa.
7. Asia.
8. Trying Conclusions: A Global Option?.
Index.
Professor David Martin is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics and Honorary Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Lancaster University. He has published numerous books including Tongues of Fire (Blackwell 1990), Does Christianity Cause War? (1997) and A General Theory of Secularisation (1978). He is generally regarded as one of the most influential sociologists of religion writing today.
"Pentecostalism: The World Their Parish deals with the phenomenon
of 'charismatic' Christianity in a context and style very far from
the superficial categories in which it often gets discussed,
raising substantive issues for the whole question of the future of
Christianity. He is sympathetic but not uncritical, and manages to
distinguish much that is habitually blurred. As a scholar of Latin
American Pentecostalism, he is in the first rank. He writes as
always with grace and clarity. It is exactly the kind of book most
commentators on religion ought to read, with its careful
dismantling of cliches about fundamentalism and its plea for a
culturally nuanced account of pentecostal piety." The Most Revd
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Wales
"David Martin ranks as one of the leading scholarly interpreters of
world pentecostalism and its 'charismatic penumbra'. In this work
he once again demonstrates his mastery of the cultural dynamics
that have informed the movement's global sweep, as well as the
differences that have marked sub-traditions, territories,
localities and social groupings. Challenging glib secularization
theories, Martin persuasively traces the functionality of
pentecostal spirituality in modern society. He combines the rigor
of the sociologist with the narrative skill of the historian,
readily crisscrossing the boundaries that have separated those
disciplines. The book is witty, elegantly written, and brimming
with insights as sage as they are subtle." Grant Wacker, Duke
University
"[Many] questions come teeming out of Professor Martin's
instructive pages as he turns his attention to other parts of the
world, for which Latin America is merely a template." Times
Literary Supplement
"David Martin...is a doyen of British sociology of religion. It is
good to have a new book from him on this important issue. His main
interest has been in South America, although he shows that he is
fully aware that Pentecostalism is just as strong in many parts of
Africa. [He offers] a fascinating and important picture." Church
Times
"The textured approach to the varieties of cultures and different
inculturations of Pentecostalism both enhances the quality of the
study and the usefulness of the book." Jeffrey Gros, Secretariat
for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops
"This work of synthesis constitutes for years to come a privileged
reference point, for whoever works on Pentecostalism or
Secularization." Archives de Sciences Sociales
"A scholar not only of profound learning but considerable
originiality. Pentecostalism: The World Their Parish sustains his
reputation as one of the best sociologists of religion in the
world." Reviews of Religious Research
"This book demonstrates...that having been so much of a pioneer in
the study of religion and globalisation, Martin remains a major
authority. It represents sophisticated and thought-provoking
scholarship for all those concerned to map the changing dynamics of
contemporary Christianity." Modern Believing
"Pentecostalism: The World Their Parish is the newest effort on the
subject of contemporary Pentecostalism by one of today's leading
sociologists of religion, David Martin. This book, a work of
sweeping reach and comprehensive synthesis aimed at examining
Pentecostalism in a global context ..." Journal of Religion
"A trail-blazing book, then, on a spiritual fire that has encircled
the world within a century." William K. Kay, Reviews in Religion
and Theology
"The book offers insightful interpretations, clear
conceptualizations, and a richness of empirical overview that is
reminiscent of Max Weber's writing. It nicely synthesizes much of
the recent literature on its theme. Perhaps most significantly,
Martin demonstrates how religion, even and especially the
apolitical religion of the culturally despised subaltern, is a
regular feature of the global social landscape: not a remnant, not
a faute de mieux, but a vital resource for getting along in this
world. As such, it will be of interest to anyone who seeks a better
understanding of the global society in which we all live." American
Journal of Sociology
"This book on Pentecostalism is a good complement to Martin's
earlier exploration of contemporary evangelical growth, usefully
pulling together many strands of recent research on Pentecostalism.
As usual, Martin combines his sociological rigor with his attention
to cultural and historical matters, giving us a broad picture of
Pentecostalism within the framework of a wider sociological
theory." The Journal of Religion
"Well-written, informative, and full of stimulating thoughts, this
book is a 'must' not only for those involved in the study of
Pentecostal-charismatic churches and searching for a more
encompassing perspective, but for anyone contemplating the future
of religion in the twenty-first century." Journal of Contemporary
Religion
"Martin surverys, sympathetically but critically, "the largest
global shift in the religious market place over the last 40 years"
and relates it in both sociological and historical terms to
cultural change." Choice
"His discussions on the economic empowerment of Pentecostalism and
the repudiation of secularization alone make this book worth
reading." Missiology
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