New Study of Pentacostals and Charismatics

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life earlier this month released a new ten-country survey of Pentacostals and Charismatics titled Spirit and Power. The report says: "Renewalist Christians' strong focus on the supernatural has led to the widespread perception that the movement is largely apolitical in outlook. Although renewalists are focused on spiritual matters, many also say there is a role for religion in politics and public life. In nine of the 10 countries surveyed, for instance, at least half of pentecostals say that religious groups should express their views on day-to-day social and political questions; support for this position is equally widespread among charismatics. In every country surveyed, furthermore, renewalists are at least as likely as others to express this view." This week's Christian Century discusses the study.