The A.F.M. of S.A. is part of the classical Pentecostal Movement which originated early in the 20th century. It is the oldest Pentecostal Church in South Africa, and among the oldest in the world. The Pentecostal movement considers itself a continuation of the Church of Acts, in spirit, doctrine and practice. Since the time of that church there has never been a exact equivalent to the modern Pentecostal Movement, although occasionally Pentecostal phenomena have occurred among believers. Pentecost ascribes its origin and extension to God. It has in fact been, since its inception, the fastest growing section of the Christian Church. It was preceded and influenced at its origin by various movements and persons - Pietism, Methodism, The Holiness Movement and Zionism (Dewey). Preparatory factors in South Africa were the revival of 1860, Andrew Murray and the poor-white situation. The origin of the movement can be traced to a Bible College in Topeka, Kansas, on 1st January, 1901, although it gained its impetus later at Azusa Street, Los Angeles, in April 1906. The Americans, in particular John G. Lake and Thomas Hezmalhalch, were instrumental in the establishment of the A.F.M. of S.A. in May 1908. Upoa a foundation laid by Zionism in particular, the A.F.M. grew rapidly from the start. As in America, services were originally multiracial. This phenomenal growth, and the development from a revival movement to an established church, is discussed. The novelty and disparate character of Pentecost in a largely Calvinist Church situation in S. A., with its resultant reciprocal influences, is also considered. The entire spectrum of ecclesial development is examined church polity, liturgy and doctrine, and various activities such as missions, welfare, training, youth and Sunday School. The history of the· A.F.M. clearly demonstrates that the Pentecostal Movement has not only come to stay, but that it is increasingly extending its influence as a church in South Africa. / Die A.G.S. van S.A. is deel van die klassieke Pinksterbeweging wat aan die begin van die 20th eeu ontstaan het. Dit is nie alleen die oudste Pinksterkerk in Suid-Afrika nie, maar een van die oudstes in die wereld. Die Pinksterbeweging glo dat hy in gees, in leer en praktyk 'n voortsetting is van die vroee Handelinge-kerk. Na die vroee kerk was daar nie weer 'n kerk of beweging wat die presiese ekwiwalent van die hedendaagse Pinksterbeweging is nie alhoewel daar met wisselende tussenposes in die kerkgeskiedenis sekere Pinksterfenomene onder gelowiges voorgekom het. Die Pinksterbeweging glo dat sy ontstaan en voortbestaan 'n werk van God is - dit is inderdaad sedert sy ontstaan by verre die vinnigste- groeiende deel van die Christelike Kerk. Sy ontstaan is voorafgegaan en voorberei deur verskillende bewegings en persone - die Pietisme, metodisme, Heiligheidsbeweging en Sionisme ( Dowey). Ook in Suid-Afrika was daar voorbereidende faktore - die 1860-herlewing, Andrew Murray en die armblanketoestand. Die Pinksterbeweging se ontstaan kan herlei word na 'n Bybelskool in Topeka Kansas op 1 Januarie 1901 alhoewel sy eintlike momentun by die gebeure in Azusastraat Los Angeles in April 1906 gesoek moet word. Vanuit Amerika was dit veral twee manne, John G. Lake en Thomas Hezmalhalch wat instrumenteel was in die tot standbrenging van die A.G.S. van S.A. gedurende Mei 1908. Op 'n bodem wat veral voorberei is deur die Sionisme, het die A.G.S. van meet af geweldig gegroei. Soos in Amerika was die dienste aanvanklik veelrassig. Sy fenomenale groei asook die ontwikkeling vanaf 'n herlewingsbeweging tot 'n gevestigde kerk word bespreek. Die nuutheid en vreemdsoortigheid van die Pinksterbeweging in die oorwegend Calvinistiese kerklike situasie van Suid-Afrika en die wedersydse beinvloeding word oak onder die loep geneem. Daar word gekyk na die valle spektrum van ontwikkeling in die kerk self: kerkregtelik, liturgies en leerstellig, asook verskillende werksaamhede - sendingwerk, barmhartigheid, opleiding, jeug en Sondagskool. Die boodskap van die A. G. S. se geskiedenis is duidelik - die Pinksterbeweging het nie net gekom om te bly nie, maar is besig om op 'n steeds grater wordende wyse sy staanplek en invloed as kerk in Suid-Afrika te verbrei. / Thesis (DDiv)--University of Pretoria, 1987. / Church History and Church Policy / DDiv / Unrestricted

Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-02

The aim of this qualitative research study has been to investigate seven young adult Pentecostals conceptions about religious evil, that is Satan, demons and hell. The purpose has also been to analyze how these conceptualizations are formed. The method that has been used in this study is individual semi-structured interviews. The result of the study show that conceptions of Satan, demons and hell are strong in most of the individuals’ life but one. Berger & Luckmanns theories of socialization has been applied to the results and the discussion shows that conceptions about religious evil are formed in the primary socialization or the secondary socialization if the person goes through the process of alternation. Bultmanns argument that modern man can’t accept the world view that is presented in The New Testament has also been discussed and the discussion reveals that modern day people can believe in the New Testament worldview.

Magister Theologiae - MTh / Although there were various small Pentecostal experiences (like baptismsin the Holy Spirit accompanied by glossolalia utterances) just before and after the beginning of the twentieth century, the origin of the Pentecostals is generally traced back to two incidents very early in this century (Frodsham 1946:15-17; Kendrick 1961 :34-36). Some writers prefer to linkthe origin of the Pentecostal Movement to Charles Parham's Bible Collegeat Topeka (Kansas) (Nichol 1966: 26). Others prefer to link thisMovement's origin to the Azusa Street revival of William J.Seymour (Nichol 1966: 32).

The aim of the thesis is to examine how a group’s self-image is created, sustained and if necessary changed during the revolutionary 20th century. The study takes its point of  eparture in the idea that a self-image is essential for an organisation’s cohesion and collective identity. The study object is the Pentecostal Philadelphia church in, Sweden, established in 1910. In concrete terms, the thesis examines the self-image of the church as it is expressed in its narratives and activities from 1910 to 1980. The lf-image is analysed with the aid of the concepts ‘boundaries’ and ‘symbols’ and in relation to social and organisational change processes. In the main the empirical material  onsists of official documents such as jubilee publications, annual reports and the weekly newspaper Evangelii Härold. The main contribution of the thesis is an analysis of the church’s historical narrative. In this narrative the overall theme appears to be the small and faithful group that due to God’s influence and despite opposition became a major  nd significant church -- a success story. The theme also remains the same when the circumstances change. Narrative theory emphasises that the narrative has to be changeable order to be serviceable. However, my study shows that the narration, at least at the level highlighted in the thesis, is inert. The self-image seems to be difficult to change but is not necessarily static. The narrative is shown to include strategies for dealing with internal change processes and changes in society.

Vivemos tempos de mudança na relação do homem com o Evangelho. Este estudo tem por objetivo mostrar algumas distorções que tem se proliferado nos meios chamados evangélicos, mostrado, para tanto, alguns dos elementos que vêm colaborando paulatinamente para o esvaziamento prédico e homilético dos púlpitos. Nesse sentido, o Movimento Neopentecostal é marcado pela ausência de características doutrinárias ou hermenêuticas, as quais são influenciadas por práticas estranhas à Palavra de Deus. Não se pode dizer que a culpa da falência homilética dos púlpitos seja apenas atribuída aos Neopentecostais, no entanto, estes, possuem uma visão reducionista de Deus, que o limitam a três aspectos: prosperidade financeira, saúde e realizações pessoais, de forma que se prioriza a busca pelo prazer humano, por uma horizontalização das conquistas terrenas. Nesse contexto, contudo, ainda há exemplos de indivíduos que continuam abrindo mão de tudo para dedicarem a vida ao Senhor e à causa do Evangelho, dos quais, grande parte, são anônimos. São estes que mantém a integridade e a lisura do Evangelho através dos tempos. Conclui-se, então, que o Evangelho não definhará enquanto pessoas imbuídas da verdadeira missão continuarem doando suas vidas em prol de almas que ainda não se curvaram ou sequer ouviram do verdadeiro Cristo. / We live in times of change in man's relationship with the Gospel. This study aims to show some distortions that have proliferated in the media called evangelicals, shown for both, some of the elements that have worked together to gradually emptying and homiletic preaching from the pulpits. In this sense, the Pentecostal Movement is marked by the absence of doctrinal or hermeneutical characteristics, which are influenced by unfair foreign to the Word of God. You cant say that the blame for the failure of homilies from the pulpit is only given to Neopentecostais, however, they possess a reductionist view of God, that limit to three areas: financial prosperity, health and personal achievements, so we prioritize the search for human pleasure, a flattening of earthly achievements. In this context, however, there are still examples of individuals who continue giving up everything to devote his life to the Lord and the Gospel, of which mostly are anonymous. These are maintaining the integrity and fairness of the Gospel through the ages. It follows, then, that the Gospel does not wither away as people imbued with the true mission to continue giving their lives for the sake of souls who have not bowed or even heard of the true Christ.

How the church views the female sex is an ongoing discussion, something that is noticeable in, among other things, the Christian newspaper Dagen, where there has been a recent debate about female leadership and the different or equal characteristics of the sexes. Against the background of this debate, this study is directed toward female gender roles in the Pentecostal movement. The purpose of the study is to contribute to knowledge of young women's experiences of female gender roles in the congregation and the interaction with their individual views on gender. To meet the purpose, nine interviews have been conducted with young women who are active in Pentecostal congregations in southern Sweden. In the result, the informants' views on the gender perspective are first presented. Then follows their experiences of stated and implicit gender roles in religious activities. Finally, the informants' approach to their experiences from the congregation is presented. There is a variety of experiences of female gender roles, but a greater agreement in their general thoughts about gender roles. Being a woman in the congregation is explained both as something neutral and something distinctive, in a positive and negative sense. Overall, the conclusion has been drawn that the gender roles experienced by the informants can be experienced as both liberating and limiting for the individual.

The reproduction of the gender system and gender hierarchies is a well-researched area in society. However, there is a lack of research on gender relations in Swedish churches, more specifically in the Pentecostal movement. The aim of this essay is to use qualitative content analysis to examine four Christian podcasts known in the Swedish Pentecostal movement, to discover if they reproduce and/or challenge gender roles, hierarchies, and heteronormative sexuality. The essay identified three main categories: gendered characteristics, non-normative sexuality, and family life. The findings suggest that gender is reproduced in the four podcasts on different levels, both implicitly and explicitly, for example by assigning gender-specific characteristics to men and women and explaining that women are the weaker sex that men must take care of. The pastors/preachers in the podcasts also speak in a heteronormative way, excluding other sexualities or declaring other sexualities as sinful. Finally, the podcasts express the different roles of men and women in the home and family, with women being the caregivers and men being the authoritative influences needed to lead a family. Even though the national board of the Pentecostal movement in Sweden is explicitly concerned with gender issues, the essay shows that more needs to be done to influence preachers and pastors in the movement. The churches are active in many societies and reach many children in the communities with different activities. Therefore, it is important for teachers and other adults to be aware of the attitudes and perspectives on gender and sexuality that young people encounter in their everyday lives, and the essay can provide insight into the reproduction of norms in society. The findings of the essay can help teachers to create a more inclusive and stereotype-free classroom.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T19:20:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Samuel Pereira Valerio.pdf: 4442140 bytes, checksum: 84d1cdd1820301f985c9c104eb9e6fab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-11-04 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Swedish Baptist church arises in Brazil in 1912, in Guarani, a small countryside village in the south of Brazil. Today it is present in 752 places of worship in Brazil, the number of members is 58.319, according a recent statistic, and it is present in 11 countries. Born out of Örebromissionen - ÖM, a Swedish mission that sent Erik Jansson to Brazil as a missionary to take spiritual care of settlers in the so called missions region in Rio Grande do Sul. It is a Pentecostal and ethnic church in a first moment, and for account of this ethnic characteristic, has grown slower than other Pentecostals churches founded in same period. Subsequently it reached other ethnicities which resided in the region, such as Russians, Germans and Brazilians, among others. In our historical approach we demonstrate facts that corroborate to the presence of the Pentecostal movement within this church and the relevance of the pastor of Philadelphia Church in Örebro, Sweden, John Ongman, founder of ÖM. We approach the relevance of Andrew Johnsson for the implantation of Pentecostalism in Sweden, and yet ÖM as a center for this movement, which is also responsible for the sending of several missionaries to many parts of the world, including Brazil, where it founded several churches and in 1919 organized the Convenção Evangélica Batista Sul Rio-Grandense (South Rio Grande Evangelical Baptist Convention). We draw a profile of the Swedish Baptist Church in its early endeavor in our territory. Therefore the Swedish Baptist Church has as its central characteristic Migration Pentecostalism, becoming the third entry of Pentecostalism in Brazil / A Igreja Batista Sueca surge no Brasil em 1912, em Guarani RS, hoje esta presente em locais de culto 752 total de membros 58.319, segundo uma estatística recente da CIBI, e hoje está presente em 11 países. Nascida da Örebromissionen ÖM, missão sueca que enviou Erik Jansson ao Brasil como missionário para cuidar espiritualmente dos colonos da região das missões no Rio Grande do Sul. Trata-se de uma igreja Pentecostal e étnica em um primeiro momento, e por conta desta característica étnica, tem um crescimento mais lento que outras igrejas pentecostais fundadas na mesma época. Posteriormente se abriu para outras etnias que residiam na região: russos, alemães e brasileiros, entre outros. Na abordagem histórica em nossa pesquisa demonstramos fatos que corroboram a presença do movimento Pentecostal dentro desta igreja. A importância de John Ongman, pastor da Igreja Filadélfia de Örebro e fundador da ÖM. Abordamos a relevância de Andrw Johnsson para a implantação do Pentecostalismo na Suécia, e ainda a ÖM como centro deste movimento e responsável pelo envio de vários missionários para muitos lugares do mundo, incluindo o Brasil, onde se inaugurou várias igrejas e em 1919 organiza-se a Convenção Evangélica Batista Sul Rio-Grandense. Traçamos um perfil da Igreja Batista Sueca no início do trabalho em nosso território. Portanto, a Igreja Batista Sueca, tem como característica central o Pentecostalismo de Migração, sendo uma terceira entrada no Pentecostalismo no Brasil

Esta dissertação apresenta uma avaliação teológ ica e perspectivas para a herm enêutica pentecostal, a partir dos temas bíblicos estudados na Escola Dominical da Igreja Assembléia de Deus, entre os anos de 2000 e 2009. O primeiro capítulo discorre sobre o Movimento Pentecostal e a Assembléia de Deus no Bras il. O pentecostalismo surge nos Estados Unidos em 1901, sob influência, principalmente, da pregação metodista da segunda benção, associada ao batismo no Espírito Santo, buscando restaurar a experiência vivida pela igreja cristã, nos tempos apostólicos. A Assembléia de Deus brasileira tem sua origem em Belém (PA), em 1911, a partir do trabalho de dois missionários suecos, Daniel Berg e Gunnar Vingren, i nfluenciados pelo movimento pentecostal norte-americano. Após décadas de constante cres cimento, representa hoje cerca de 30% dos evangélicos brasileiros, estando presente em todas as regiões do país. Num segundo momento, são apresentadas refl exões de vários autores, acerc a da teologia e do princípio pentecostal. O segundo capítulo trata da leitura pentecostal da Bíblia, relacionando os assuntos estudados na Escola Dominical e avaliando teologicamente os temas mais relevantes: Inspiração da Bíblia Sagrada, Volta de Jesus, Disciplinas da Vida Cristã , Jesus, Batismo com o Espírito Santo, Teologia da Prosperidade, Curas e Milagres. O terceiro capítulo observa que a leitura bíblica praticada pela Assembléia d e Deus é direcionada por uma h ermenêutica pentecostal conservadora e experimental. Conclui, em termos de perspectiva contemporânea, propondo a adoção de duas outras ênfases: a diaconal e a profética, traduzidas como a disponibilidade em servir à Igreja e à comunidade, denunciar as mazelas sociais e buscar a justiça e a paz, preparando o povo de Deus para o serviço cristão, a fim de construir o corpo de Cristo na realidade brasileira. / This dissertation presents a theological evaluation and per spectives for the Pentecostal hermeneutics, from the biblical themes studied in Sunday Sch ool Assembly of God Church, between the years of 2000 and 2009. The first chapter discusses the Pentecostal Movement and the Assembly of God in Brazil. Pentecostalism emerged in the United States in 1901, influenced mainly by the "second blessing" Methodist preaching associated with the baptism in the Holy Spirit, seeking to restore the lived experience of the Chris tian church in apostolic times . The Brazilian Assembly of God has its origin in Belem (PA), in 1911, from the work of two Swedish missionaries, Daniel Berg and Gunnar Vingren, influenced by the American Pentecostal movement. After decades of steady growth, it currently represents about 30% of the Brazilian evangelicals, being present in all the regions of the country. In a second moment, reflections of some authors are presented about theology and Pentecostal principle. The second chapter deals with the Pentecostal reading of the Bible, relating the subjects that were taught in the Sunday School and theologically evaluating the most relevant topics: Ins piration of the Holy Bible, Return of Jesus, Disciplines of Christian Life, Jesus, Baptism with the Holy Spirit, Theology of Prosperity, Healing and Miracl es. The third chapter says that Bi ble reading practiced by the Assembly of God is guided by a conservative and experimental Pentecostal hermeneutics. It concludes, in terms of contemporary perspective, proposing the adoption of two other emphases: the diaconal and prophetic, both translated as the willingness to serve the Church and the community, to denounce the social ills and to seek for justice and peace, preparing the people of God for the Christian service, in order to build the body of Christ in the Brazilian reality.