Pentecostalism in Latin America

Abstract

There have been many social changes in various parts of the world among which religion has great importance. Similarly, the region of Latin America cannot be ignored when it comes to discuss the topic of Pentecostalism and its growth. Research has shown that Pentecostalism has significant roots in the Latin American as all major countries of the region have huge numbers of an Ideology that is born in the United States. This paper aims to understand the concept of Pentecostalism and investigate its growth in Latin America.

Table of Contents

Abstract1

Introduction3

Discussion4

Pentecostalism4

Birth of Pentecostalism6

Spread of Pentecostalism7

The First Wave of Movement in Latin America8

Pentecostalism in Latin America9

Barriers of Race and Cultural11

Conclusion13

End Notes15

Pentecostalism in Latin America

Introduction

In last some decades Latin America has seen various profound changes in relation to social, cultural, political, economic, and religious aspects. No doubt, religion has been an important element in social changes occurred in different parts of the world including the Latin America. In fact, the most important change to be noticed is that until 20th century Latin America was recognized as a majority of Roman Catholic region. However, it can be seen that recent studies based upon changes in 19th and 20th centuries reveal that more than 40% of Pentecostal denomination are found in Latin America.

Researchers also claim that between 1960 and 1985 Pentecostalism doubled its size in Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela, Panama and Haiti. It tripled its size in Argentina, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It quadrupled in Brazil and Puerto Rico, quintupled in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru and Bolivia, and sextupled in Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and Colombia. This suggests that Latin America witnessed a significant growth of Pentecostalism in the region. In fact, In Latin America, traditionally specialists distinguish three forms of Pentecostalism: one linked to the U.S. denominations; native one, which preserves the doctrines and style of churches in the United States, however, was made autonomous in terms of organization, and last is identified as entirely local, born on the basis of charismatic experiences of the founders or private revelations. This paper aims to discuss the most important aspects of these religious transformations in Latin America based on the religious characteristics of Pentecostalism in the region.

Discussion

Pentecostalism is now has more than 500 million believers worldwide. The most interesting thing to know is that its growth is obvious in many parts of the world, particularly in Latin America, Africa, Korea, and China. In fact, many researchers have looked at the astonishing success of Pentecostalism. For the sociologist Jean-Louis Schlegel, this could take its dynamism "a very clear decoupling between faith and culture as well as loss of traditional culture. In addition, other researchers also believe that the proliferation of evangelical churches is inseparable from globalization and is a religious side. According to the analysis of Olivier Mongin who explains that Pentecostalism can be composed of little church, a small businessman or common person and one preacher. Andrew Cohen also emphasizes the compatibility of Pentecostalism and ...