The History and Future of European Pentecostalism

What is it about?

In a global context, numerically European Pentecostals are relatively few. That said, European Pentecostalism has deep native roots and a rich international history. Indeed, this article argues that European Pentecostalism is precisely a modern European Christian movement because of both its European origins and international ethos. Informed by this historical past, the article proposes that the Pentecostal narrative of Acts 2, which celebrates the diversity of cultures and calls peoples to repentance, has the potential to help European culture to navigate its complex past, and provide the foundational story for building its multicultural future. This, however, can only be done if European Pentecostals themselves effectively socially embody the message of Pentecost in their local congregations, networks, and institutions.

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Why is it important?

The paper shows that Pentecostalism is a modern European religious movement, and that the story of Pentecost could become the guiding narrative for European multiculturalism, which some have seen as a failing European project.