1st Edition

Pentecostal Theology for the Twenty-First Century Engaging with Multi-Faith Singapore

By May Ling Tan-Chow Copyright 2007
    224 Pages
    by Routledge

    224 Pages
    by Routledge

    In our post 9/11 world where there is a growing religious fundamentalism, and when both exclusion and easy tolerance are inadequate options, this book offers a creative alternative arguing that Pentecostalism has the potential to be a peaceful harbinger of plurality. The potential lies in its spirituality - a lively pneumatology and eschatology. The eschatological Spirit is seen as orientated towards the other, crossing boundaries in redemptive embrace, transcending exclusion and easy tolerance. This book's non-Western perspective and the empirical contextual study of Singapore's multicultural and multi-faith context are unique contributions to religion and society. This is a book for students, pastors, teachers, and theologians concerned for an approach to mission that is sensitive to their context, who want to learn from a creative theological voice from what has been perhaps the largest religious movement in history, and who see the immense potential in lively theology by Christians of the Chinese diaspora who can speak to the many millions of ethnic Chinese Christians. This book will also appeal to those outside Christianity who are interested in its attempts to engage with a complex multi-ethnic and multi-religious situation such as that in Singapore.

    Contents: Foreword; Introduction; Part I Descriptive: A hermeneutic of Singapore culture; Christianity in Singapore; Pentecost revisited. Part II Constructive: Interrogating Pentecostalism: a biblical challenge to Lovesingapore; An alternative way: re-conceiving the spirit in Pentecostalism; A Pentecostal theological contribution: pneumatological eschatology; Conclusion; Bibliography; Indexes.

    Biography

    Tan-Chow May Ling is Dean of the School of Divinity (English Department) at TCA College, Singapore

    ’... a rare book, probably the only one that provides a critical analysis of a transdenominational Pentecostal charismatic movement in Singapore.’ Society of Asian North American Christian Studies ’There is much in this book for a variety of readers. Some will no doubt find the detailed theological work helpful as they think through the kind of issues that Tan-Chow raises and the challenges that an apparently increasingly religiously polarised world brings. Others will probably find the book even more helpful in the context of what it has to say about the particular matrix of religious belief in Singapore and how Pentecostalism is seeking to find its own place and mission within that diverse society.’ Theological Book Review ’... students of Pentecostalism are sure to find many profound insights in this well-researched and well-written monograph.’ Missiology 'This work is a good reference for anyone interested in contemporary Asian Christianity.' Mission Studies