Developments & Movements within Christianity
Christian beliefs and practices have long been shaped by movements, theological debates, and shifts in political and societal contexts. The following resources address some of the most significant developments that have contributed to the ongoing transformation of Christianity. From the rise of asceticism of Late Antiquity to the Reformation of the 16th century and the spread of charismatic movements of today, the following material showcases how Christian communities have been redefining their spirituality since Late Antiquity.
ANNOTATED RESOURCES
Bibliography:
- This book offers a global perspective on Pentecostalism as the world's fastest-growing religious movement: Anderson, Allen Heaton. An Introduction to Pentecostalism, Cambridge University Press 2013.
- This introduction explores the diverse ways in which prosperity theology -the belief that faith will lead to financial success and physical health- is applied across various cultural and economic contexts: Attanasi, Katherine. “Introduction: The Plurality of Prosperity Theologies and Pentecostalisms,” in Pentecostalism and Prosperity. The Socioeconomics of the Global Charismatic Movement, edited by Katherine Attanasi and Amos Yong. Palgrave MacMillan, 2012, 1-12.
- This preface introduces the author's inspiration behind the study of "holy anorexia," a phenomenon in which female saints exhibited behavior similar to anorexia nervosa: Bell, Rudolph M. "Preface," in Holy Anorexia. Chicago University Press, 1985, VIII-XII.
- A ground-breaking study by Peter Brown on sexual practices, renunciation, celibacy, marriage in the Roman Mediterranean. Embedded within the traditional behaviors of Roman society, Brown explores how Christianity reshaped some basic understandings of society – and how Christians redefined the human body. Here in chapter 11 the focus is on Egypt and the famous so-called Desert Fathers, Brown, Peter. "Chapter 11: The Desert Fathers: Anthony to John Climacus," in Body and Society. Men, Women and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity. Columbia University Press, 1988, 213-240.
- This book explores the practices and beliefs of Pentecostal communities in East Tennessee, where followers interpret a biblical passage literally (Mark 16:17-18), leading them to engage in activities such as serpent handling and drinking poison: Burton, Thomas. Serpent-Handling Believers. The University of Tennessee Press, 1993.
- In her memoir, Nicole Hardy reflects on her struggle to balance her Mormon faith and personal identity: Hardy, Nicole. Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin. A Memoir. Hachette Books, 2013.
- In his book, the Nigerian-American author and academic Ebenezer Obadare examines the role of religion in shaping the political landscape of Nigeria, focusing on the ongoing Christian-Muslim divisions and the rise of Pentecostalism: Obadare, Ebenezer. Pentecostal Republic. Religion and the Struggle for State Power in Nigeria. Zed Books, 2018.
- This book explores the rise and controversy surrounding Montanism, an early Christian prophetic movement, focusing on its opponents' accusations of heresy and the persecution it faced, particularly after Constantine's reign (306-337): Tabbernee, William. Fake Prophecy and Polluted Sacraments. Ecclesiastical and Imperial Reactions to Montanism. Brill, 2007.
Online articles:
- This article looks at how the prosperity gospel has grown in Nigeria, showing how its message of wealth through faith appeals in a context of general poverty: https://www.stears.co/article/who-prospers-from-prosperity-gospel-in-nigeria/
Videos:
- “Mt Athos, The Monk's Republic”, a documentary about the largest monastic community of Greece, dating back to the 10th century and counting over 2000 monks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zy16AA5Ohs
- While being a fellow at the Council of Foreign Affairs Ebenezer Obadare is being interviewed about his current research and publications. In Pastoral Power, Clerical State: Pentecostalism, Gender, and Sexuality in Nigeria, he explains how Nigeria changed and how “men of God”, that is, Nigerian Pentecostal pastors, became influential and are able to shape state-society relations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYTj90kDRps
- A short interview of the Televangelist Kenneth Copeland talking about prosperity preaching and his infamous private jets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LtF34MrsfI
- Do Televangelists need airplanes? A brief news story on the excessive wealth accumulated by Televangelists and often being exempted from taxation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZmGmGnkBVM
- A news story from Australian Television on the Serpent Handling Cult of Tennessee aired a few months before one of the featured pastors, Jamie Coots, died of a snake bite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5O1RVWB8MQ
- An excerpt of a 2007 History Channel video about the history and practices of the Serpent Handling Cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hkWLOCukks
- Pastor Chris Wolford, a pastor of The House of the Lord Jesus Church in West Virginia, a Snake Handling Church, is interviewed on the famous YouTube channel “Soft White Underbelly” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZUz_S8EGxE