Religion at the limits: Pentecostalism among Indian South Africans

1994

ISBN O 869818554

Contents

PREFACE vii

INTRODUCTION ix

CHAPTER 1

The context and life-situation of Indian Pentecostalism 1

CHAPTER2

Indian Pentecostal churches before the 1960s 13

CHAPTER3

The Indian Pentecostal experience 57

CHAPTER4

Multiplying by division. The younger Pentecostal churches 91

CHAPTERS

The institutionalisation of the older Pentecostal churches 131

CHAPTER6

Indian Pentecostalism in a changing religious context 162

CHAPTER 7

The Pentecostal experience 180

BIBLIOGRAPHY 233

Preface

In this book, Gerald Pillay has presented us with a thought-provoking interpretation of the development of the Pentecostal Movement within the Indian community of South Africa. The Apostolic Faith Mission, the Full Gospel Church in South Africa, the Assemblies of God churches and numerous other independent churches are studied. The focus is on the largest Indian church, the Bethesda Temple, which is affiliated to the Full Gospel Church in South Africa. Original material which may have otherwise been lost has been gathered by the author. Personal interviews and discussions with early leaders and members of this movement were made. Observations of worship services and the features of testimonies, sermons, popular songs and choruses were also studied. But much more than historical data is given. The author helps the reader to interpret his findings by discussing and criticising different theories on religion. By doing this in the introductory section the reader is able to gain fresh insight into the lives of many of the leaders of the movement and their churches. The data is also further discussed and interpreted when he deals with the processes of institutionalisation and changing religious contexts. He also presents us with interesting paragraphs on Hindu reaction to Pentecostalism, the influence of Pentecostalism on Hinduism and the present changing religious attitudes of Hindus. In the last chapter the Pentecostal experience is discussed in an original way. Not only is Hinduism compared to Indian Pentecostalism on the basis of different practices and views on theological themes, but various doctrinal differences within different groups in the Pentecostal movement are also explored. In the closing sections he touches on issues which are relevant to and important for any in-depth theological discussion of Pentecostal issues. He makes a fresh contribution to the understanding of Pentecostals and offers some helpful solutions for Pentecostals in interpreting and communicating their faith. The book ends with an assessment of some of the main contributions of Pentecostalism to Christianity today. This is indeed a presentation of 'religion at the limits' - giving us 'eyes to see' and 'ears to hear' and helping us to discover a world many of us wouldn't have dreamed of entering. Professor Gerald Pillay is well qualified to write this book, having studied the community for many years and having written a doctoral thesis on the topic. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Church History at the University of South Africa and has both a fine historical perspective and a multi-disciplinary approach. This book is one in a series published by the Pentecostalism and Charismatic Renewal Research Project, registered with the Institute for Theological Research at the University of South Africa. Studies of South African Pentecostalism and African Pentecostalism are now supplemented with a study of Indian Pentecostalism. We hope that this original contribution will be read by all religious communities. We would like to pay tribute to the late Professor Willem Vorster, for his particular interest in and active support of this project. This publication flows from discussions with him, and he was the driving force behind this undertaking. A word of thanks is also due to the staff of the Institute for Theological Research, Mesdames J Kilian, I Victor and E Benadie, who in many ways were involved in this publication. In particular to Mrs Nannie Fouche a special word of thanks for typing the manuscript and preparing it for printing.

Professor J P J Theron

Reverend David Olivier

Project leaders

Pentecostalism and Charismatic Renewal Research Project

University of South Africa