Posted on 10/07/2006 6:40:10 AM PDT by NYer
NEW YORK - A new 10-nation survey of Pentecostal and charismatic Christians, considered the fastest-growing stream of Christianity worldwide, shows they are deeply influencing the Roman Catholic and mainstream Protestant churches and are poised to make a big impact on global affairs. p>The poll released Thursday by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that "spirit-filled" Christians, who speak in tongues and believe in healing through prayer, comprise at least 10 percent of the population in nine of the 10 surveyed countries.
The study also found that followers are more willing than previously thought to bring their traditional values into public debates, potentially shaping government policies in the years ahead.
The surveys were conducted over the spring and summer in Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, India, the Philippines, South Korea" /> Researchers polled both Pentecostals, who form their own denominations such as the Assemblies of God, and charismatics, who have adopted some Pentecostal beliefs but remain members of traditional Protestant and Catholic churches.
The survey estimated that Pentecostals and charismatics together comprise at least half the population of Brazil, Guatemala and Kenya, and 44 percent of the Philippines.
They make up about one-third of the population of South Africa and Chile and nearly one-quarter of Nigerians and U.S. residents. The figure for South Korea is smaller, at 11 percent. In India, the poll was limited to three states with large Christian populations, so a national estimate could not be made.
The study found Pentecostal beliefs have a strong hold in major churches in many countries.
In the traditionally Catholic nations of Brazil, Guatemala and the Philippines, charismatics are a larger share of the population than Pentecostals.
In six of the 10 countries, Pentecostals and charismatics together make up the majority of the overall Protestant population, according to the survey.
The Pentecostal movement, which began a century ago in Los Angeles, spread quickly overseas because of its adaptability to local cultures, whose indigenous beliefs often include healings and casting out of evil spirits, and because of the exuberance of its worship.
While Pentecostals and charismatics are known for speaking in tongues, the survey found respondents were more likely to say that they had personally witnessed or experienced other signs of the Holy Spirit, such as a healing through prayer or a direct revelation from God.
The majority of Pentecostals in every nation surveyed except South Korea and India believed religious groups should express their views on social and political issues. In seven of the 10 countries, 70 percent of charismatics agreed.
"These are folks for whom the world of spirit is remarkably alive ... but that in no way diminishes their commitment to social justice for the poor, for instance, or a role for government in meeting those needs," said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum.
The polls were conducted by phone in the U.S., and in person overseas, with margins of error ranging from plus or minus 4 percentage points to 9 percentage points for some subgroups.
The polls in Brazil, South Africa and South Korea focused on urban areas.
YUP, YUP.
THANKS THANKS.
I believe so. But I don't recall anything else about them.
2 Timothy 3
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Now who sounds like they're babbling?
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Indeed.
Thanks Much.
Am humbled and blessed by your kind words.
Much agree.
Bless you and yours.
PRAISE GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS.
Dad is still being 84 years old . . . mostly a good honorable, kind, etc. man . . . except in spots to me . . . the neighbor he talks to thinks he has bitterness built up over the way others have treated him including my deceased adopted sister 10 years my jr.
I just know he's a pretty horrible communicator with me and I think the communicative neighbor is right that dad is taking lots of things out on me that have nothing to do with me. No fun. But, one soldiers on.
He's basically a cold, distant Dane in heritage, personality and habits. LOL.
Thanks tons for your prayers and for asking.
I sure think a lot of hideous habits and customs have evolved re money in Pentecostal circles.
I advocate a collection box in the back. Our current church has that and no offering part of the service.
Yeah, I don't think there's any more excuse for that than there is for nonPentecostals insisting that Pentecostals are full of the devil.
Like most issues . . . . there are two sides. LOL, Sigh.
AMEN TO THAT!
Christianity is one force that can, and should unite the world in a spirit of hope and mutual respect.
PRAISE GOD FOR THAT!
HOW I LONG FOR THAT. Though there's usually a challenge to more intense, closer following of our Lord to accompany such . . . as long as He enables and helps us do that--fine with me!
Read of a prophecy recently that asserted that God had tested leaders and was now testing followers--that those following luke warm folks who denied God's power and move in this age were vulnerable to some fierce disciplines from The Lord in the not too distant future. We shall see. Have been expecting such for 30 years or more.
Much appreciate your post and prayers.
Thanks tons for your kind, loving encouragements. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS in myriad ways.
Much agree with that.
. . .
And . . . am feeling that a nap is calling me increasingly forcefully.
Oh come on...there's lots of leaders that aren't the leaders of the coming days and there's lots of followers that are the actual leaders of the coming days. Because of the doctrines and traditions of men those leaders continue to hold on too. Our Lord has tried to get through to them on their errors of the scriptures. Yet, they continue to hold on these traditions of men.
There will be lots of sympathy for that position rising ever more fiercely in our era.
The global world leader will insist on being worshipped as God.
And, he will insist that all who insist on continuing to worship Jesus THE CHRIST, THE RISEN LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS shall be put to death.
So, folks of that perspective might take comfort that Christians--PARTICULARLY PENTECOSTALS AND ALL WHO BELIEVE IN THE 2ND COMING AND CHRIST'S MIRACLES NOW . . .
shall be attacked on every front and hounded out of public life in every way possible and every effort made to utterly exterminate them.
We shall see what God's response shall be. Thankfully, He and His loved ones win in the end.
The allegations of this perspective that I'm responding to are exceedingly offensive, hostile, off the wall, demeaning, out of place, inappropriately likened to the historical event; horrid, narrow, rigid, . . .
BTW, It boggles my mind that anyone from this present era could assume that that 1930's movement was anything even remotely Christian in fact.
Sheesh.
Seems to me that there's an allergy involved, here. And a very unwarranted allergy, at that.
Because of the doctrines and traditions of men those leaders continue to hold on too. Our Lord has tried to get through to them on their errors of the scriptures. Yet, they continue to hold on these traditions of men.
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Plenty true.
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