The intercultural theology of Walter J. Hollenweger

ABSTRACT

This article reflects on the influence and legacy of Walter Hollenweger at the University of Birmingham in the creation of an academic centre for the study of worldwide Pentecostalism. Probably his most significant legacy is the subject of intercultural theology, which is discussed with reference to various writings and themes. What it meant to Hollenweger as the key concept in understanding all his research on Pentecostalism, and why it remains so important is explored. The article also discusses the relationship of intercultural theology to ‘responsible syncretism’ as a way of doing theology. The last section analyses Hollenweger’s well-known ‘oral structures’ as found in the practices of Pentecostal churches as an expression of intercultural theology, and their implications for Hollenweger’s legacy.

KEYWORDS:

• Hollenweger
• intercultural theology
• syncretism
• Pentecostalism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism.

2 Anderson and Hollenweger (eds.), Pentecostals after a Century.

3 Hollenweger, Evangelism Today; Hollenweger, The Pentecostals.

4 Hollenweger, The Pentecostals, 149.

5 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 51–3.

6 Some of this article has been modified from Anderson, Spirit-Filled World, 199–207.

7 Hollenweger, Enthusiastisches Christentum.

8 Hollenweger, ‘Intercultural Theology’, 28. In 1974 Hollenweger edited Studies in the Intercultural History of Christianity with essays in German, French, and English. There are no English translations of the 3 volumes on intercultural theology Hollenweger published in German as Erfahrungen der Leibhaftigkeit (1979), Umgang mit Mythen (1982) and Geist und Materie (1988).

9 Hollenweger, ‘Monocultural Imperialism versus Intercultural Theology’.

10 Ibid., 33.

11 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 290.

12 See van der Laan and Versteeg. “Bibliography of Walter J. Hollenweger.”

13 Hollenweger, “Intercultural Theology”, 35.

14 See this expressed later in Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 18–9.

15 Anderson, Zion and Pentecost, 68–70; Anderson Spreading Fires, 179–81.

16 Anderson, Zion and Pentecost, 30–7.

17 Anderson, “Healing in the Zion Christian Churches”, 103–19.

18 Pobee and Ositelu, African Initiatives, 70.

19 Ukpong, “Current Theology”, 520.

20 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 47.

21 Ibid., 132.

22 See e.g. the preface to Hollenweger, The Pentecostals, xvii–xix.

23 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 289.

24 Shaw and Stewart, “Introduction”, 7.

25 Sundkler, Bantu Prophets, 1961, 297.

26 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 41–80.

27 Hollenweger’s research students are listed by van der Laan, “List of Students”, 359–66. See also Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 290–1.

28 Hollenweger, The Pentecostals, 149–75; Anderson, Moya.

29 Hollenweger, The Pentecostals, 149.

30 Ibid., 166.

31 This resulted in, amongst others, fourteen PhD theses on African Pentecostalism under my supervision in the past two decades: seven on Ghana, three on Nigeria, and one each on Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, and Zambia.

32 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 41–80.

33 Ibid., 77.

34 Ibid., 51.

35 Ibid., 41–53.

36 Ibid., 132–3.

37 Kärkkäinen, “Pentecostal Pneumatology”, 160.

38 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 132.

39 Hollenweger, “After Twenty Years’ Research on Pentecostalism”, 5.

40 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 18–23.

41 Ibid., 18.

42 Ibid., 269–71.

43 Ibid., 274–5.

44 Ibid., 18.

45 Ibid.

46 Ibid.

47 Ibid., 18–9.

48 Daneel, All Things, 312.

49 Hollenweger, Pentecostalism, 228–37.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Allan H. Anderson

Allan H. Anderson is Professor Emeritus in the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, UK.