Meaning and Belonging in a Charismatic Congregation: An Investigation into Sources of Neo-Pentecostal Success
Meaning and belonging are analyzed in a northeastern neo-pentecostal congregation. Various mechanisms used to enhance meaning and belonging, hence commitment, are pinpointed and discussed. It is concluded that, although meaning is essential in such a setting, belonging is no less important. In fact,...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Springer
1980
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| In: |
Review of religious research
Year: 1980, Volume: 21, Issue: 3, Pages: 284-301 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Meaning and belonging are analyzed in a northeastern neo-pentecostal congregation. Various mechanisms used to enhance meaning and belonging, hence commitment, are pinpointed and discussed. It is concluded that, although meaning is essential in such a setting, belonging is no less important. In fact, there is reason to suspect that belonging, as seen in the interactions between the members, is more fundamental in generating and maintaining commitment. When belonging is provided in a consistent and comprehensive way, the commitment of the members is remarkably strong. By providing an ethnographic sketch of the congregation, an understanding of it and why it operates in a specific pattern is possible. As an example of conservative Christianity, the neo-pentecostal congregation provides a case-in-point confirmation of Kelley's (1972) argument that, through more effective provision of meaning and belonging, the conservative churches are attracting and holding more believers than the mainline churches. |
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| ISSN: | 2211-4866 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Review of religious research
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/3509809 |