Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal, 1901-2001

by Vinson Synan

Book Overview

A definitive history of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement and an intriguing reference for persons outside the movement, "The Century of the Holy Spirit" details the miraculous story of Pentecostal/Charismatic growth--in the U.S. and around the world. This book features five chapters by the premier Pentecostal historian, Vinson Synan, with additional contributions by leading Pentecostal/Charismatic authorities--David Barrett, David Daniels,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0785245502
• ISBN13: 9780785245506
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 2.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.7" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Quailty Textbook

An in-depth textual history of the pentacostal movement of the 20th century. Intresting with lots of detail and yet not boring. Well documented.

century of the Holy Spirit 100 years of Pentecostal and charismatic renewal, 1901-2001

this is a great book for the pentecostal it is truly a must to read to know your spiritual heritage as a pentecostal beliver

This book is FUN!

I have yet to read all the way through Vinson Synan's book because I keep jumping from page to page... the stories! The pictures! If you were there in the charismatic days, you may find it striking you the way it strikes me...it's like looking at a yearbook! It is such a valuable memoir of great days in which I was privileged to participate. I only got the book a few days ago but already have been telling friends about it. And I must say that people & events of whom I have some personal knowledge ring true in the way they are presented here. Although there may be some points left out, it's staggering to see how much material Vinson Synan has tackled. If you don't agree with every single point he makes, you have to admire his effort. And there is much documentation of all his points. One structural problem with the book is repetition, as in: several biographies of Aimee Semple McPherson; one in a chapter in the chronological rundown of events, and another in a chapter on women of significance during the century. The one thing surprising is that there is no mention of the Messianic Jewish movement. I'm not sure how much of that was Pentematic, but at least some of it had to be. Also another great point about this book is there is much, much material about events leading up to the 20th century. This book filled in so many holes I had in church history.

Concise, Readable, and Valuable History of a Movement

Vinson Synan has compiled a concise, readable, and valuable volume tracing the one hundred-year history of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. The book is a partisan overview of the key events and most significant personalities that contributed to this century-long religious phenomenon. Synan provides outstanding coverage of the enormous contributions of African Americans, and Hispanics, as well as females within the movement. Among other subjects, many pages are devoted to Pentecostalism's holiness roots, charismatic renewal among both Roman Catholics and the mainline Protestant denominations, along with a chapter devoted to faith healers and televangelists. The book does contain weaknesses. Despite Gary McGee's excellent chapter on global expansion, Synan fails to include a full global prospective, which is actually the most impressive aspect of Pentecostalism. Though I appreciate much of the work of David Barrett in the final chapter, I found his statistical evaluation too inclusive and some of his futuristic predictions a bit bizarre. This 492-page hardcover work contains an abundance of photographs, vignettes, and a colorful pullout timeline of key events. In addition to Synan, there are nine exceptional guest authors who contribute to the book. This is a well-done presentation that should be on the shelf of every enthusiast of Pentecostal and Charismatic history.

100 Years of Pentecost

History comes to life in a book that makes for compelling reading and a valuable reference tool. In addition to key data and timelines, it refers readers to a wealth of related background material. Though Vinson Synan wrote six chapters, it features nine other contributors. Yet the story flows with the coherence of a single author, enlivened by vignettes on such key figures as Kathryn Kuhlman, Carlos Annacondia, Oral Roberts and Bishop Charles Mason. The Century of the Holy Spirit builds a strong case for the authenticity of the Spirit-filled life. Examples: * The Bible college students in Topeka, Kan., who received the gift of tongues in 1901 spoke in 21 languages they had never studied. * During the budding of the Azusa Street revival, the future wife of leader William Seymour spoke in Hebrew and played the piano without benefit of lessons. * Church of God in Christ (COGIC) founder Mason parted ways with another leader over the issue of speaking in tongues. Today, COGIC is the nation's largest Pentecostal denomination. The other church has less than one percent as many members. Further strengthening this profile, Synan delves into Pentecostalism's historic roots. Among them are John Wesley's notes on the "Second Blessing" and important movements of the 19th century that paved the way for the latest outpouring. He also traces the rise of cessationist theories that maintain a grip nearly two millennia later - including at the Moody Bible Institute. Ironically, the book details Dale Moody receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and later teaching it at his Chicago-based ministry. Yet the truth is not glossed over. Conflict rages within these pages, from the disputes at Azusa Street to the tragic excesses of the shepherding/discipleship movement. Still, a crucial question remains: How long will the theological war between evangelicals and Spirit-filled believers continue? A century after its budding in the U.S., 500 million adherents worldwide vouch for the validity of this movement. So does the blood of 8 million martyrs. Perhaps books like this will help both sides recognize that our common enemy is Satan, not brothers and sisters in Christ. --This review appeared in the July 2001 issue of Charisma magazine.