Italian American Pentecostalism and the Struggle for Religious Identity

Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing religious groups in the world, and this book explores its roots, inception, and expansion among Italian Americans. It charts its birth among immigrants in Chicago and the initial expansion fuelled by folk-Catholic, Reformed evangelical, and Holiness sources. The book also explains how internal and external pressures demanded structure, leading to the founding of the Christian Church of North America in 1927.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

While many established forms of Christianity have experienced significant decline in recent decades, Pentecostals are currently one of the fastest-growing religious groups worldwide. This comprehensive book explores the origins, inception, and expansion of Pentecostalism among Italian Americans, shedding light on how this movement has successfully traversed diverse cultures.

The book begins by conducting a survey of the historical roots and early shaping forces that contributed to the development of Italian American Pentecostalism. It traces its birth among immigrants in Chicago and highlights the initial expansion fueled by the convergence of folk-Catholic, Reformed evangelical, and Holiness sources. The author then delves into how internal and external pressures necessitated the establishment of structure, leading to the founding of the Christian Church of North America in 1927.

Parallel to this growth, the Italian District of the Assemblies of God emerged, as well as the Assemblee di Dio in Italia (Assemblies of God in Italy), the Canadian Assemblies of God, and influential denominations in Brazil and Argentina. In the concluding chapters, the book analyzes key theological loci and presents a forward-looking assessment of the movement's future prospects, based on a comprehensive analysis of contemporary developments.

This book offers a unique perspective into the religious lives of an understudied but culturally significant group in America. It will appeal to scholars of Pentecostalism, Religious Studies, Religious History, Migrations Studies, and Cultural Studies, as it provides valuable insights into the dynamics and adaptations of this vibrant religious movement across different cultural contexts.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367785109