Reflections on 12-2

Bolger: "Pentecostalism is a non-Western faith that has come to the West"; this then provides a partial explanation of the growth of Pentecostalism in the West

Nevertheless, when we look back to a history of Pentecostalism, we see that it started in the West - specifically in Kansas with a white man, Charles Parham. William Seymour, the son of a slave and an early proponent of Pentecostalism may provide some fodder for those describing Pentecostalism as a non-Western faith; truthfully, however, it would be difficult to say that Pentecostalism was brought to the West. Pentecostalism is not Western in its practice or logical foundation, but neither was it an import from the East. Hence, one might say that Pentecostalism is not culturally grounded - instead it is grounded in the Spirit.