4E Religious identity through religious experience Flashcards
What does ‘charismatic’ mean?
• Greek word, ‘charismata’ = ‘gifts of grace’
• This is the word Paul used to refer to special qualities that C.tians receive through HS
- Paul + others were not trying to present a standardised list, but were drawing attention to the diff. way believers could express G’s grace
Give three references of passages that mention spiritual gifts.
- Romans 12:6-8
- 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
- Ephesians 4:11
Passages that scholars believe were written later, such as 1 Peter, do not contain many of the ‘miraculous’ gifts. What question could you derive from this?
• Was the C.ch moving towards a more formal, regulated order?
- In early centuries, there was the development of formal leadership and very little evi. of the more miraculous gifts
What Bible passage provides the most extensive discussion of spiritual gifts?
• 1 Corinthians 12-14
- Paul: true purpose of spiritual gifts is to strengthen the body of Christ
- Discouraged a chaotic practice of the gifts where there were multiple and simultaneous displays of tongues/prophecies where all an observer would hear is babbling
- Tongues = more fitting for private worship unless the exp. was interpreted in an orderly fashion
- Most imp. for Paul = ppl should seek spiritual gifts in an attitude of love and helpfulness for those around them
Give a quote from M. Cartledge about Pentecostalism.
• “Pentecostals have turned to the narrative of Luke-Acts as the main source of their ideology”
- Miraculous events e.g. outpouring of HS on Apostles, mass conversions, healing miracles - should not be seen as part of a past age
When do many scholars trace the beginning of the Pentecostal movement to?
• Charles Fox Parham in Kansas
- One of his students spoke in tongues after reading Acts and praying to receive HS
• William James Seymour followed Parham’s ministry and formed, in 1906, what quickly became the largest c.ch in Los Angeles
- Seymour worked w/ an interracial congregation of African-Americans, Mexican-As, European-As
Pentecostal denominations are known for being evangelical in nature. What four qualities of evangelism does Alistair McGrath note?
1) Scripture = ultimate authority
2) J’s death = only source of redemption
3) All ppl need to have a conversion exp.
4) The C.tian faith should be shared through evangelism
In what ways are Pentecostal churches different from other evangelical churches?
- P c.chs believe there is a 2nd baptism (that of the HS) that takes place after conversion
- Many Ps believe that speaking in tongues = confirmation of receiving this 2nd baptism
- In P c.chs, there is a focus on spontaneous worship + healing, and that these are the ‘end times’
- P c.chs in early 20th C = anti-ecumenical; can be seen in attitudes to RCC, which has been viewed by many Ps as outside of C.ty altogether ∵ of its formalism, hierarchy and worldliness
What does the Charismatic Movement refer to?
• The exp. of the gifts of the spirit in C.chs outside of P denom.s
• From mid-20th C onwards, many from trad. denom.s exp. speaking in tongues, healing, other gifts described in NT, but decided to remain in their denom.s rather than leave them
- Saw their exp.s as ways to bring renewal to their denom.s rather than leave them
• CM spread quickly from 1960s, finding acceptance in RCC + many Prot. denom.s
• Can be described as a ‘renewal movement’ within c.chs + is sometimes referred to as ‘neo-Pentecostalism’ ∵ shares many traits with Pente denom.s, such as the belief that the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 = just as valid today
Give a quote from the 1981 Church of England report about the charismatic movement.
• “Is it possible that an institutionalised, intellectualised, formalised practice of Christianity has left a thirst in the inner being which only the springs of charismatic renewal could satisfy?”
Give examples of different emphases between Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement.
- Tendency in P c.chs to see tongues as initial proof of spirit baptism; in CM, tongues = viewed as a gift to all believers, but not one that necessarily confirms their spiritual exp.
- In CM, less reference to the bapt. of the HS as the 2nd part of a two-stage initiation - prefer to speak of “being filled by the Spirit” to emphasise bib. teaching that there is only one bapt.
When was the beginning of the Charismatic Movement?
• World attention in 1960 when Dennis Bennet, Episcopalian minister in California, had a charismatic exp. and introduced it to his congregation
• First CofE cong. to declare itself as char. = 1963
- Soon after, The Fountain Trust = founded to encourage char. worship across denom.s in UK
Give some information on the Charismatic Movement in the Roman Catholic Church.
• Prior to rise of CM in RCC, Vat. II focused on need for renewal, expressed in Lumen Gentium
• Scholars often cite Feb 1967 as beg. of char. renewal in RCC: tongues at Duquesne University (Catholic uni)
• Cardinal Suenens, a leading voice at Vat. II: “Rather than a movement, charismatic renewal is a moving of the HS which can reach all C.tians”
• Movement has been recog. in many sig. ways by RCC:
- 1975: Pope Paul VI welcomed 10,000 char. C.tians attending a conference on CM
- 1980: Pope John Paul II appointed char. priest Raniero Cantalamessa as a preacher to the papal household (retains this role for Pope Francis)
• Estimated no. of Cath.s involved in charismatic renewal = 10-15% of Cath.s worldwide (150 million)
What was the fastest growing Christian movement in the UK in the 1980s?
• House Church movement, aka Restorationism
- Char. exp.s w/ strong eschatological emphasis
- Adherents believed they were living in the end times when demonic powers would be overcome
List three things that have been influential in spreading the Charismatic Movement amongst evangelical Christians.
- Toronto Blessing
- Vineyard association of c.chs
- Spring Harvest
