Religious identity

• New Testament passages describe special qualities (charismata, ‘gifts of grace’) Christians receive from the Holy spirit (see I Corinthians 12:4-11).
• The Charismatic Movement (CM) involves churches across denominations which believe that gifts should be discovered, practiced and used today.
• The Charismatic Movement is also known as the ‘Renewal Movement’ or ‘neo-Pentecostalism’ because many remain in their denominations, seeking to renew them.
• Key events in the history of the Charismatic Movement include Episcopalian priest Dennis Bennett introducing his charismatic experience to his congregation in 1960, the first Church of England congregation to declare itself ‘charismatic in 1963, and Catholic students/lecturers on a retreat in 1967 experiencing speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts.
• Today, most major denominations have some charismatic congregations; 10-15% of Catholics worldwide are involved in this movement.
• Four main practices in the Charismatic Movement are: speaking in tongues (glossolalia), prophecy, healing, and inspiring worship which may involve dancing, raising one’s hands in the air and speaking in tongues.
• Ayer said that all knowledge outside of statements that are true by definition (2+2=4) must be verifiable through sense experience.
• Glossolalia is sometimes ‘interpreted’ by another member of the congregation; however, since we have no independent knowledge of the content of this language, it is impossible to verify.
• No scientific study has confirmed physical healings in charismatic circles, though they are seen by some as miracles according to Aquinas’ view that a miracle can include something that nature would do but at a greater speed.
• The messages given in prophecy are often so vague that they elude verification.
• The sense of God at work in Charismatic circles is real to those who have the experience and can be seen to bear real ethical and emotional ‘fruit’.
• Many who claim these experiences are intellectually and emotionally mature.