A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Leaving Pentecostalism
Authors: Mantsinen Teemu T.
Editors: Daniel Enstedt, Göran Larsson, Teemu T. Mantsinen
Publication year: 2019
Book title : Handbook of Leaving Religion
ISBN: 978-90-04-33092-4
eISBN: 978-90-04-33147-1
ISSN: 1874-6691
Pentecostal Christianity is rife with social disruptions and discontinuations. This has previously been a concern of group level research, but individual level is also important, although often overlooked due the expansive nature of Pentecostalism. This chapter discusses a study of leaving Finnish Pentecostalism, and offers practical considerations. A closer examination of individual exit stories is offered from a theoretical perspective of discrepancy theories. With varied individual experiences, informants share a sense of imbalance between their personal life and Pentecostal tradition, resulting in alienation and disruption. Various factors (for example social support, group size) influenced on how leavers prevailed the experience.
Keywords:
Apostasy, Atheism, Christianity, Comparative Study of Religion, Pentecostalism, Religion, Religious conversion