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When Pentecostals Cry
A Phenomenological Study of Encountering God
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Author:
In When Pentecostals Cry, Martin Warnelid presents a unique perspective on the affective dimension of pentecostal spirituality by exploring fourteen narratives of encountering God by ordinary pentecostal believers. From a practical-theological perspective, the author creatively interprets the research findings through the leitmotif of pentecostal tears, engaging constructively with Hartmut Rosaâs theory of resonance and Simeon Zahlâs pneumatology. In doing this, the book offers a fresh understanding of what occurs when pentecostals cry that goes beyond dismissing the phenomenon as religious emotionalism. For the first time, affective experiences of encountering God are in this book interpreted as pneumatological resonance, a concept that expands the conversation on pentecostal spirituality in significant ways.
Martin Warnelid is Associate Professor of Practical Theology at ALT School of Theology in Sweden. He studied theology at the University of Oxford, served as a pastor in Stockholm, and wrote his PhD thesis at the University of Aberdeen.
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction: the Embarrassment of Tears
â1 Aims and Objectives
â2 The Unanswered Question of Affective Transformation
â3 Personal Interest
â4 Practical Theology and the Current Book
â5 The Structure and Content of the Book
â6 Summary
2 The Context of Tears: Pentecostal Spirituality
â1 Introduction
â2 The Origin and Development of Pentecostalism Globally
â3 The Problem of Defining Pentecostalism
â4 The Characteristics of Pentecostal Spirituality
â5 Pentecostalism as Movement, Tradition, and Spirituality
â6 The Origin and History of Pentecostalism in Sweden
â7 Summary
3 The Terminology of Tears: Affectivity and Affections
â1 Introduction
â2 The Terminology of Affectivity in the Christian Tradition
â3 The Concepts of Passions and Affections in the Christian Tradition
â4 The Modern Concepts of Emotions and Affects
â5 The Study of Affections in the Pentecostal Tradition
ââ5.1 Affective Anthropology in the Pentecostal Tradition
ââ5.2 Affective Epistemology in the Pentecostal Tradition
ââ5.3 Affective Transformation in the Pentecostal Tradition
â6 The Terminology of Affections in the Pentecostal Tradition
â7 Summary
4 Researching Tears: Methodology and Method
â1 Introduction
â2 Research Design and Research Question
â3 Phenomenology as Philosophy, Methodology, and Method
â4 The Methodology and Method of Hermeneutic Phenomenology
â5 Hermeneutic Phenomenology and the Current Study
â6 Data Collection
ââ6.1 Participant Recruitment and Sample Selection
ââ6.2 The Participants
ââ6.3 The Interview Process
â7 Data Analysis
â8 Personal Reflexivity
â9 Summary
5 Listening to Tears: Narratives of Encountering God
â1 Introduction
â2 Encountering God Personally
ââ2.1 The Body and Encountering God: âI Often Cry in the Presence of Godâ
ââ2.2 The Language of Encountering God: âItâs Hard to Describeâ
ââ2.3 The Preconditions for Encountering God: âOpen Your Heart to Godâ
ââ2.4 The Role and Meaning of Encountering God: âI Donât Need More Evidenceâ
â3 Being Transformed in Godâs Presence
ââ3.1 Perceptions of Transformation: âThere Is Clearly a Before and Afterâ
ââ3.2 The Transformation of Emotions: âIâve Never Felt Such Happinessâ
ââ3.3 The Transformation of Affections: âAll of a Sudden, I Wasnât Afraidâ
ââ3.4 The Transformation of the Heart: âYou Canât Rely on Emotionsâ
ââ3.5 Metaphors of Affective Transformation: âI Received a New Engine Insideâ
â4 Connecting with God in Everyday Life
ââ4.1 Connecting through Constant Prayer: âGood Morning, Holy Spiritâ
ââ4.2 Connecting by Listening for Godâs Voice: âGod, I Need a Word for Todayâ
ââ4.3 Connecting through Spiritual Discernment: âI Recognise His Voiceâ
ââ4.4 Connecting through a Relational Bond: âGod Is Like My Closest Friendâ
â5 Summary
6 Interpreting Tears: Pneumatological Resonance
â1 Introduction
â2 Pentecostal Tears as Pneumatological Resonance
â3 Being Affected by the Spirit
ââ3.1 Rosa on the Experience of Being Affected
ââ3.2 Pentecostal Accounts of Being Affected by God
ââ3.3 Zahl on the Practical Recognisability of the Spirit
ââ3.4 Pentecostal Tears as Being Affected by the Spirit
â4 Responding to the Spirit
ââ4.1 Rosa on the Experience of Responding
ââ4.2 Pentecostal Accounts of Responding to God on the Vertical Axis
ââ4.3 Pentecostal Accounts of Responding to God on the Diagonal Axis
ââ4.4 Pentecostal Accounts of Responding to God on the Horizontal Axis
ââ4.5 Pentecostal Tears as Responding to the Spirit
â5 The Transformation of the Spirit
ââ5.1 Rosa on the Experience of Transformation
ââ5.2 Pentecostal Accounts of Being Transformed by God
ââ5.3 Zahl on Pneumatological Transformation and Delight
ââ5.4 Pentecostal Tears as the Transformation of the Spirit
â6 The Uncontrollability of the Spirit
ââ6.1 Rosa on the Experience of Uncontrollability
ââ6.2 Pentecostal Accounts of the Uncontrollability of God
ââ6.3 Zahl on the Freedom of the Spirit
ââ6.4 Pentecostal Tears as the Uncontrollability of the Spirit
â7 Summary
7 The Writing on Hearts: a Pentecostal Theology of Tears
â1 Introduction
â2 The Metaphor of Godâs Writing on Human Hearts
â3 Beyond Pentecostal Emotions: Tears and Soteriology
â4 Beyond Pentecostal Experiences: Tears and Ethics
â5 Beyond Pentecostal Expressions: Tears and Pneumatology
â6 Beyond the Immanent Frame: Tears and Epistemology
â7 Summary
8 The Gift of Tears: Practical Implications
â1 Introduction
â2 For Pastors: Facilitating Affective Encounters
â3 For Worship Leaders: Expanding the Affective Imagination
â4 For Intercessors: Discerning the Work of the Spirit Affectively
â5 For Congregants: Delighting in God through Worship
â6 Summary
9 Conclusion: When Pentecostals Cry
â1 Introduction
â2 The Purpose of the Study and Central Findings
â3 The Contribution of the Study
â4 The Limitations of the Study
â5 Suggestions for Further Research
â6 Summary
Bibliography
Indexâ
1 Introduction: the Embarrassment of Tears
â1 Aims and Objectives
â2 The Unanswered Question of Affective Transformation
â3 Personal Interest
â4 Practical Theology and the Current Book
â5 The Structure and Content of the Book
â6 Summary
2 The Context of Tears: Pentecostal Spirituality
â1 Introduction
â2 The Origin and Development of Pentecostalism Globally
â3 The Problem of Defining Pentecostalism
â4 The Characteristics of Pentecostal Spirituality
â5 Pentecostalism as Movement, Tradition, and Spirituality
â6 The Origin and History of Pentecostalism in Sweden
â7 Summary
3 The Terminology of Tears: Affectivity and Affections
â1 Introduction
â2 The Terminology of Affectivity in the Christian Tradition
â3 The Concepts of Passions and Affections in the Christian Tradition
â4 The Modern Concepts of Emotions and Affects
â5 The Study of Affections in the Pentecostal Tradition
ââ5.1 Affective Anthropology in the Pentecostal Tradition
ââ5.2 Affective Epistemology in the Pentecostal Tradition
ââ5.3 Affective Transformation in the Pentecostal Tradition
â6 The Terminology of Affections in the Pentecostal Tradition
â7 Summary
4 Researching Tears: Methodology and Method
â1 Introduction
â2 Research Design and Research Question
â3 Phenomenology as Philosophy, Methodology, and Method
â4 The Methodology and Method of Hermeneutic Phenomenology
â5 Hermeneutic Phenomenology and the Current Study
â6 Data Collection
ââ6.1 Participant Recruitment and Sample Selection
ââ6.2 The Participants
ââ6.3 The Interview Process
â7 Data Analysis
â8 Personal Reflexivity
â9 Summary
5 Listening to Tears: Narratives of Encountering God
â1 Introduction
â2 Encountering God Personally
ââ2.1 The Body and Encountering God: âI Often Cry in the Presence of Godâ
ââ2.2 The Language of Encountering God: âItâs Hard to Describeâ
ââ2.3 The Preconditions for Encountering God: âOpen Your Heart to Godâ
ââ2.4 The Role and Meaning of Encountering God: âI Donât Need More Evidenceâ
â3 Being Transformed in Godâs Presence
ââ3.1 Perceptions of Transformation: âThere Is Clearly a Before and Afterâ
ââ3.2 The Transformation of Emotions: âIâve Never Felt Such Happinessâ
ââ3.3 The Transformation of Affections: âAll of a Sudden, I Wasnât Afraidâ
ââ3.4 The Transformation of the Heart: âYou Canât Rely on Emotionsâ
ââ3.5 Metaphors of Affective Transformation: âI Received a New Engine Insideâ
â4 Connecting with God in Everyday Life
ââ4.1 Connecting through Constant Prayer: âGood Morning, Holy Spiritâ
ââ4.2 Connecting by Listening for Godâs Voice: âGod, I Need a Word for Todayâ
ââ4.3 Connecting through Spiritual Discernment: âI Recognise His Voiceâ
ââ4.4 Connecting through a Relational Bond: âGod Is Like My Closest Friendâ
â5 Summary
6 Interpreting Tears: Pneumatological Resonance
â1 Introduction
â2 Pentecostal Tears as Pneumatological Resonance
â3 Being Affected by the Spirit
ââ3.1 Rosa on the Experience of Being Affected
ââ3.2 Pentecostal Accounts of Being Affected by God
ââ3.3 Zahl on the Practical Recognisability of the Spirit
ââ3.4 Pentecostal Tears as Being Affected by the Spirit
â4 Responding to the Spirit
ââ4.1 Rosa on the Experience of Responding
ââ4.2 Pentecostal Accounts of Responding to God on the Vertical Axis
ââ4.3 Pentecostal Accounts of Responding to God on the Diagonal Axis
ââ4.4 Pentecostal Accounts of Responding to God on the Horizontal Axis
ââ4.5 Pentecostal Tears as Responding to the Spirit
â5 The Transformation of the Spirit
ââ5.1 Rosa on the Experience of Transformation
ââ5.2 Pentecostal Accounts of Being Transformed by God
ââ5.3 Zahl on Pneumatological Transformation and Delight
ââ5.4 Pentecostal Tears as the Transformation of the Spirit
â6 The Uncontrollability of the Spirit
ââ6.1 Rosa on the Experience of Uncontrollability
ââ6.2 Pentecostal Accounts of the Uncontrollability of God
ââ6.3 Zahl on the Freedom of the Spirit
ââ6.4 Pentecostal Tears as the Uncontrollability of the Spirit
â7 Summary
7 The Writing on Hearts: a Pentecostal Theology of Tears
â1 Introduction
â2 The Metaphor of Godâs Writing on Human Hearts
â3 Beyond Pentecostal Emotions: Tears and Soteriology
â4 Beyond Pentecostal Experiences: Tears and Ethics
â5 Beyond Pentecostal Expressions: Tears and Pneumatology
â6 Beyond the Immanent Frame: Tears and Epistemology
â7 Summary
8 The Gift of Tears: Practical Implications
â1 Introduction
â2 For Pastors: Facilitating Affective Encounters
â3 For Worship Leaders: Expanding the Affective Imagination
â4 For Intercessors: Discerning the Work of the Spirit Affectively
â5 For Congregants: Delighting in God through Worship
â6 Summary
9 Conclusion: When Pentecostals Cry
â1 Introduction
â2 The Purpose of the Study and Central Findings
â3 The Contribution of the Study
â4 The Limitations of the Study
â5 Suggestions for Further Research
â6 Summary
Bibliography
Indexâ
The book will appeal to academics, Christian ministers, and lay-people interested in empirical studies on pentecostalism and pentecostal spirituality, and in new perspectives contributing to the development of pentecostal theology.