Comparing revelatory utterances in charismatic Christianity and Islam

Abstract

Experiential dimensions characterize charismatic traditions in religions. The aim of this paper is to present a comparative discussion of a particular phenomenon in charismatic Christianity and Islamic traditions, namely the revelatory utterance. Believers within these traditions understandably assume such utterances to be from God and, hence, revelatory. The question however, is: how do they address the problem of the authority of such utterances in the context of their respective broader mainstream traditions? Focusing on three particular aspects, namely, scriptures, role models and theology, the paper suggests that far from ignoring mainstream traditions, the revelatory utterance is seen to be informed by it.

Keywords:

• revelatory utterance
• experiential dimension
• charismatic Christianity and Islam

Notes

1. For the sources of Katz’s methodology of the mediated nature of all experiences, see Almond 1990, 211–12.

2. For a critique of constructivism see Forman 1999, 81ff.

3. In Moses’ case, it was Aaron who acted as his deputy; see Exodus 4.

4. For more on Constantine and the Christian Empire, see Odahl 2004.

5. For more on him, see Watt 1963.

6. A radical Sunni movement rooted in the 18th century Arabia and connected to Abd al‐Wahhab (1703–1792)

7. See, for example, Rizvi (1986) on Sufism in India and Katz (1982, 1990) Cornell (1998) on North African Sufism.

8. For sainthood and saints, see Gibb et al. (1960–1997), 1: 615–16; Weinstein and Bell (1982); Izutsu (1983, 263–74); Cornell (1998); Fierro (1992, 245).

9. See more in Qamaruddin (1985); Rizvi (1995).

10. Founded in c. tenth‐century Afghanistan.

11. See Sujawandi (1374); Wali (1407, 1418). See also more on this movement in Rizvi (1995, 82); MacLean (2000, 199–200); Singh (2003).

12. For more on the Sama’ controversy between the Sufis and the Legalists, see Gribetz (1991, 43–62).

13. For historical and thematic treatment of Sufism, see Schimmel (1975), Chittick (2000); Knysh (2000).

14. See more in Singh (1999, 295–306).