PNEUMATOLOGY AS A CHARACTERISTIC OF BEING A CHRISTIAN: THE CONTRIBUTION OF PENTECOSTALISM TO CHRISTIANITY AS A WHOLE

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to show that Pentecostal pneumatology can make an important contribution to the Churches not so much on account of its statements and practices, but on account of the central place attributed to the experience of the Holy Spirit as an experience of God. The question that governed the study was this: what possible contributions does Pentecostal pneumatology offer to all the Churches today? In order to answer this question, the author highlights: the consensus of Western theology about the Spirit; the conflicts with spiritualistic groups; the oblivion of the Holy Spirit; the rationalist apologetics. The second part focuses on Pentecostalism as a theological subject. The third part points out the possible contributions of Pentecostalism. Whenever possible, a voice is given to Pentecostal theologians in order to establish a theological dialogue.