Leaving Pentecostalism
: Mantsinen Teemu T.
: Daniel Enstedt, Göran Larsson, Teemu T. Mantsinen
: 2019
: Handbook of Leaving Religion
: 978-90-04-33092-4
: 978-90-04-33147-1
: 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.