Unde Malum: Deciphering the Roles Of Radical Evil within the Pentecostal Theo-Social Imaginary

Abstract

Addressing the nature of radical evil is important to a theological approach to understanding culture. This study uses theological and philosophical studies of radical evil to highlight important areas of discourse within Pentecostalism. A case study of the faith community of Philadelphia Holy Pentecostal Church (a pseudonym) provides the means of doing an in-depth analysis of the roles of radical evil in Pentecostal worship and theo-social imaginary. Further, this study suggests that the Pentecostal service constitutes a kind of liturgy, and concludes that the expressive nature of worship in Pentecostalism is part of the reason for its inter-ethnic, cross-class, and international success.