The political turn in American Pentecostalism: prophets, healers, businessmen, and the lure of Christian America

This paper looks at the role of independent and interdenominational Pentecostal actors in the politicisation of American Pentecostalism between the 1950s and 1970s. It lays particular stress on a nexus of three tightly interrelated groups: the deliverance movement (with emphasis on Oral Roberts and...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Robins, Roger (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Routledge 2023
In: International journal for the study of the Christian church
Year: 2023, Volume: 23, Issue: 4, Pages: 407-430
Further subjects:B Pentecostalism
B American Christianity
B Christian Nationalism
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This paper looks at the role of independent and interdenominational Pentecostal actors in the politicisation of American Pentecostalism between the 1950s and 1970s. It lays particular stress on a nexus of three tightly interrelated groups: the deliverance movement (with emphasis on Oral Roberts and Gordon Lindsay); the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, International; and the Word of Faith movement (with emphasis on Kenneth Copeland). The paper reveals a striking diversity of mid-century political postures and positions, but documents a growing shift towards political networking, patriotic themes and activities, and Christian Americanism within these quarters throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, culminating in open political engagement. That outcome is epitomised by Copeland’s fervent endorsement of President Richard Nixon in a sequence of prophetic messages that prefigured, in striking ways, the ardent embrace of Donald Trump by New Apostolic Reformation prophets almost a half-century later.
ISSN:1747-0234
Contains:Enthalten in: International journal for the study of the Christian church
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/1474225X.2023.2281139