Pentecostal or Pentecostalism defined

In the psychology of religion, a Pentecostal is a person who identifies with one of the Christian  movements labeled Pentecostal. 

As a field of study, Pentecostal Christianity is sometimes called Pentecostalism. Scholars point out that their are a variety of groups who identify as Pentecostal thus, the plural form, Pentecostalisms, might make sense in some contexts.

Some, but not all, Pentecostals also identify as Evangelicals.

The research criteria for identifying a Pentecostal can vary from simply accepting the identity reported by a research participant to listing beliefs, practices, and experiences for participants to report what is true about them.

An emphasis of Pentecostalism is on the active work of God's Spirit in the life of a Christian. God's Spirit is referred to as the Holy Spirit or an older term, Holy Ghost. Among Pentecostals who trace their origins to the early 1900s, a common experience is glossolalia (speaking in tongues). 

Another emphasis common to Pentecostalism is holiness reflected in various moral codes of conduct often including abstinence from alcohol and sexual activity outside of marriage.

Some groups of Pentecostals practice foot washing and a minority practice handling poisonous snakes.

Other classic Pentecostal Gifts or Gifts of the Spirit in addition to speaking in tongues include a word of knowledge, discernment of spirits, interpretation of tongues, and gifts of miracles, healing (also called faith healing), and prophecy.

More recent lists of spiritual gifts include administration, apostle, evangelism, hospitality, and leadership. Some would say any gift or area of strength can be a gift from God that God's Spirit can strengthen to bless the person and others in the church.

Pentecostals have often been linked to deliverance ministries, which involves the "casting out" or deliverance from the devil, demons, or evil spirits. Although, this is not unique to Pentecostals because the Catholic Church has long had a ministry of exorcism.

A related but somewhat overlapping term is Charismatic.

Cite this article

Sutton, G. W. (2021, August 29). Pentecostal or Pentecostalism defined. Retrieved from https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2021/08/pentecostal-or-pentecostalism-defined.html

Resources

This book list might be helpful for those wanting to read research about Pentecostals and Pentecostalism.

Measuring Pentecostal or Charismatic Spirituality

Counseling and Psychotherapy with Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians: Culture and Research, Assessment & Practice.

Emotional Intelligence EI (aka EQ)

 

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotional information and apply the information to evaluating, understanding, expressing, and regulating emotions in oneself and others. 

There were four abilities in the 1997 model developed by psychologists John D. Mayer and Peter Salovey:

1.to perceive and appraise emotions accurately

2. to access and evoke emotions when they facilitate cognition

3. to comprehend emotional language and use emotional information

4. to regulate one's own and others emotions to promote growth and well being

Psychologist Daniel J. Goleman expanded this work in a popular book

References

Goleman, D. (2005). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. New York: Bantam.

Mayer, J.D., Salovey, P. & Caruso, D.R. (2004). Emotional Intelligence: Theory, Findings, and Implications, Psychological Inquiry, 15:3, 197-215, DOI: 10.1207/s15327965pli1503_02

Measuring Emotional Intelligence

Rotterdam Emotional Intelligence Scale (REIS)

Polygamy Polygyny Polyandry

 Polygamy in the generic term for people who have multiple marriages. 

The most common form of polygamy is polygyny--one man has two or more wives. 

Polyandry is the form of polygamy in which a woman is married to two or more men.

Bigamy refers to a person being married to two people.

Polygamy is rare but more common in some parts of the world than others.

In many countries, polygamy is illegal but some people living in polygamous relationships may have multiple marriages in accordance with their religion.