The faith movement: A global religious culture?

Abstract

In the first paper of this special issue, I present social scientific debates relating to globalisation, before suggesting that a focus on the world‐wide spread of the Faith Movement provides a powerful means of addressing such debates. The origins and diffusion of the Movement are then discussed, along with assessments of previous work by anthropologists and sociologists that deal with its religious and cultural significance. I argue that a move from ‘Americanisation’ to ‘globalisation ‘ is evident in the literature on Faith ministries and activities. Finally, I show how the contributions to this issue can be seen as in dialogue with each other as well as with wider questions concerning the transnational character of much contemporary religion.

Keywords:

• globalisation
• Americanisation
• Faith Movement
• Gospel of Prosperity