The Rise And Ramifications Of Pentecostalism In Nigeria

Originated in the United States at the end of the 19 th century and the beginning of the 20 th century,Pentecostalism is one of the Protestant denominations of Christianity,which has become the momentous sociocultural force in southern Nigeria,attaching great importance to spirituality,success,prosperity as well as healing.The history of Pentecostalism in Nigeria can be divided into three stages.During the early dissemination from the early 20 th century to the 1960 s,the rise of local religious groups and the introduction of Pentecostal churches in the United States and Britain jointly contributed to the emergence of the Pentecostal churches in Nigeria.From the 1970 s to the 1980 s,Pentecostalism in Nigeria achieved initial development,with the promotion of domestic and foreign preachers,the progression of missionary activities,the gradual maturation of religious organizations and the acceleration of college youth as the backbone.Since the 1990 s,Pentecostalism in Nigeria has marched to the comprehensive prosperity,with the improvement of missionary principle,the innovation of missionary strategies,the significant advancement of Pentecostal churches as well as the emergence of overseas preaching.Pentecostalism in Nigeria has evolved into the leading spiritual power with ramifications in various fields.As for the political ramification,although Pentecostalism has played a certain role in supervising and balancing the administration of government,it has also fostered the corruption and dictatorship to a certain extent,with the consequence of both promoting and hindering democracy.As for the economic ramification,although Pentecostalism has alleviated the local economic distress,its excessive commercialization has also transformed churches into profiteering tools,and the practice of collecting wealth in the name of religion has exacerbated the gap between rich and poor,with the consequence of both contributing and profit pursuing.As for the sociocultural ramification,although Pentecostalism has brought effective assistance to the innovation of traditional churches as well as the improvement of female status,the misinterpretation of its teachings also poses a potential danger to the social order,and the fierce rivalry between denominations has even aggravated the religious animosities and the tense situation in Nigeria.Throughout the history of Pentecostalism in Nigeria,its rise and ramifications reflect the complexity of religion in Nigeria,with the inspiration for the reconsideration of indigenous religious culture in this country.