Geisterfahrung als Empowerment

Transformationsprozesse innerhalb der weltweiten Pfingstbewegung mit einem Fokus auf Westafrika

Abstract

The emergence and development of the Pentecostal movement are depicted with an emphasis on church in West Africa. There the traditional fears of demonic powers are set against power of the Holy Spirit. The expectation of miracles and also material blessing in the lives of the faithful are also in focus. During the last few years a turning towards a stronger theological reflection has been perceptible. The impulses accruing from the Azusa Street Church in Los Angeles have brought forth in the last 100 years a large number of churches in the the USA and have influenced other churches (e. g. the Roman Catholic Church). In Germany the dealings of the various denominations, in particular of the free churches, with the pentecostal fellowships was characterised until 1996 by the dissociating form of the „Berlin Declaration“ of 1909.