Pentacostalism

A Christian renewal movement that emphasizes the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at the first Christian Pentecost. The modern Pentecostal movement arose in the United States in 1901 with Charles Parham who linked baptism with speaking in tongues. The reappearance of prophecy and healing are also part of Pentacostalism. Pentecostal churches are characterized by their various forms of participatory and informal worship and by their literal interpretation of the Bible. The movement probably appeals to the poor and less-educated in part because there is a general emphasis on spiritual experience rather than intellectual reflection. Missionary work is typically a high priority but the formation of a representative body of Pentecostals is usually opposed just as is the ecumenical movement. Since the 1960s Pentacostalism has appeared within the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox churches.