Bold Faith

Bill Johnson, Joyce Meyer, Heidi Baker. The fame of these names is evidence enough that, though the controversies are less intense, the Charismatic Movement is alive and well today. It continues to attract thousands of adherents who find its vision of a supernatural lifestyle uniquely compelling. Now, for the first time, all that is most theologically innovative about the movement is synthesized into five distinct and original ideas. These five brand new theologies have been created, not by theologians, but by practitioners who believed their concepts were inspired by the Spirit: Inner Healing, Shepherding, Word of Faith, Spiritual Warfare, and Signs and Wonders. Plenty of studies have been written by Pentecostal scholars about Pentecostal theology, but these tend to group the very distinct approaches of Charismatics together with Classical Pentecostals. Bold Faith aims to analyze and evaluate the ways in which practitioners within independent Charismatic networks, especially in their Anglo-American expressions, have responded to the challenges of secular modernity.

""This is a competent and reliable survey of certain aspects of Charismatic Christianity. It covers the topics historically, analytically, and comprehensively, but also succinctly. There is a wide reliance on secondary literature and a skillful directorial nature to the writing, as the reader is helpfully partnered through the journey. It is eminently readable, critical and constructive, interesting and insightful. I was ready to read more.""
--Keith Warrington, Reader in Pentecostal Studies, Regents Theological College; Director, Word and Spirit

""Comprehensive, readable, scholarly, and pertinent: Ben Pugh has written well about the history and theology of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements and given us the valuable viewpoint of a critical friend.""
--William Kay, Honorary Professor of Pentecostal Studies, University of Chester

Ben Pugh is Lecturer in Theology at Cliff College, UK. He is the author of The Old Rugged Cross: A History of the Atonement in Christian Devotion (Cascade, forthcoming).