Charismatic Movement

• Definition of Charismatic Movement

  Term describing the adoption of charismatic beliefs and practices in traditionally mainstream churches
• Charismatic Movement

  An interdenominational Christian renewal movement - one of the most popular and fastest-growing forces within the Christian world today.
• Roots of Charismatic Movement

  In 1906, at the Azusa Street mission in Los Angeles, California, a Methodist-sponsored revival people claimed to have been “baptized by the Holy Spirit” in the manner recorded in Acts chapter 2 during the celebration of Pentecost.
• Charismatic Renewal Movement

  It is characterised by the belief that charismatic religious experience could renew various denominations rather than demand leaving them (e.g. to become Pentecostal).

  There has been an increasing number of independent charismatic churches, that are non-denominational.
• The Roman Catholic, Anglican church and many other denominations choose to observe the movement rather than reject it
• The Charismatic Movement places less emphasis on the importance of speaking in tongues and the notion of a second baptism in the Holy Spirit, compared to Pentecostalism.
• Pentecostalism

  The Pentecostal Church is the earliest 20th century movement to believe that the miraculous events described in Acts are a reality for the present day.

  Began in a Bible School in Kansas in 1901, where a student started to speak in tongues.

  Pentecostalism includes a number of Interdenominations, such as the "Assemblies of God."
• Charismatic Practises

  Charismatic worship involves certain characteristics which members would argue it engages all Christians to have a fuller experience of the Holy Spirit. (SHIP) These include:

  1. Speaking in tongues
  2. Healing
  3. Inspiration
  4. Prophecy
• A.J Ayer


  Said that all knowledge outside of definitions are true by definition but can only be verified through empiricism.

  (1+1=2)
• Strengths of Charismatic Movement:

  Offers a popular and vibrant form of worship that is non-denominational.

  Focuses on the Holy Spirit as an important part of the Trinity.

  Promotes Religious Experience and openness to God's grace.

  Millions of Christians claim religious experience and fulfilment.

  Offers a new way of worshipping in a time of religious decline.

  Allows for a full range of human expression.

  The New Testament talks about the importance of the Holy Spirit.

  "Love dwarfs all other experiences"- Corinthians.
• Weaknesses of the Charismatic Movement

  Focusing too much on individual experience, devalues Scriptures and Doctrine.

  Implies that religious experience correlates with receiving God's grace.

  Focuses on religious experience modelled by the early church- outdated.

  Cannot be verified or Falsified.
• No scientific study has confirmed physical healing from charismatic circles, however if we follow Aquinas' definition of miracles, they could be accepted if it was something that nature would do, but at a greater speed.
• Psychological explanations for Glossolalia

  Can be a form of regression.

  Social pressure can motivate this behaviour, not the Holy Spirit.

  A psychological gap may have been filled with belief of religion.

  "Glossolalia is a voluntary activity which any uninhibited person can perform"- Castelein
• Challenges to the Charismatic Movement

  Speaking in tongues cannot be empirically verified (AJ ayer).

  Claims of healing (esp. spiritual) cannot be falsified and therefore are meaningless (Anthony Flew).

  There are psychological explanations for why religious experiences happen to those who are open to it. HOWEVER these explanations can be refuted from: The large amount of numbers of religious experiences, the idea that the brain mediates God.