Eschatological Inclusivism: Exploring Early Pentecostal theology of Religions in Charles Fox Parham

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Richie
Keyword(s):  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Pentecostal Theology

A Reply to Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen’s Response

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-275
Author(s):  
Tony Richie
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
World Religions ◽  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Christian Mission ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Pentecostal Theology ◽  
Interreligious Relations ◽  
Further Development

AbstractThis reply to Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen further affirms the importance of work in the theology of religions for Pentecostals and Charismatics today that first prompted the author’s original inquiry into the views of a major early Pentecostal leader, Bishop J.H. King, concerning interfaith encounter and understanding. This dialogue with Kärkkäinen supports suggestions that an overall program of rediscovering, reclaiming, restoring, and revisioning our Pentecostal theology of religions heritage seems advisable. King’s obviously optimistic theology of religions, however, must be carefully distinguished from pluralism and set in the context of its Wesleyan roots and Evangelical emphases. Further development of what King provides in embryonic form is demanded. King represents an optimistic but still Christocentric strain shared by other Pentecostals within early stages of the movement. Not at all amounting to an uncritical approbation of world religions, this revolutionary discovery does decidedly enlarge understandings of Christ’s lordship beyond the pale of any particular religion. Careful terminology in order to avoid misunderstanding is called for and conceded. Pentecostal hypersensitivity regarding theology of religions highlights the need for constant clarification of contrariness to liberal religious pluralism. King’s legacy invalidates any assumption that earlier (older) Pentecostal resources on religions are exclusively pessimistic. Implications are immense for Christian mission and interreligious relations.

Azusa-Era Optimism: Bishop J.H. King’s Pentecostal Theology of Religions as a Possible Paradigm for Today

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Richie
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Pentecostal Theology ◽  
Special Stress ◽  
Salient Features ◽  
Azusa Street Revival ◽  
Azusa Street ◽  
Hand Contact

AbstractEven as we celebrate the centennial of the Azusa Street Revival, the ideology and reality of religious pluralism currently challenges Pentecostal Christians to articulate an adequate theology of religions. J.H. King was an important Pentecostal pioneer influenced by the Azusa Street Revival. Well educated and widely traveled, Bishop King had considerable first-hand contact with non-Christian religions and addressed theology of religions often and in depth. King’s theology of religions at its core is characterized by optimism, that is, by a positive and balanced but non-dogmatic sense of hopefulness. Completely consistent with classical Pentecostal values, King’s thought provides important possibilities for a contemporary Pentecostal theology of religions paradigm. This paper surveys salient features of King’s theology of religions before offering suggestions about appropriation and application. Special stress is placed on continuity of Pentecostal heritage with creativity in development of Pentecostal theology of religions today.

Getting Back to the Heart of the Matter: The Way Forward and a Final Response to Tony Moon

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-149
Author(s):  
Tony Richie
Keyword(s):  
Christian Theology ◽  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
The Core ◽  
Pentecostal Theology ◽  
Final Response ◽  
The Way

AbstractIn this last in a series of discussions between Tony Moon and the author regarding Pentecostal theology of religions in Bishop King, emphasis is on the core lesson of the conversation and its positive application. It gives brief attention to demonstrating the verity and viability of an optimistic approach contra supposed detractions and oppositions. It concludes that the example of King, and of others, such as Charles Parham and George Britt, indicates there is a historical and theological basis in Classical Pentecostalism for developing a contemporary inclusivist Christian theology of religions from a Pentecostal perspective.

A Moderate Move or Missing the Point? A Response to Tony Moon's 'J. H. King's Theology of Religions: 'Magnanimous Optimism?'

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-125
Author(s):  
Tony Richie
Keyword(s):  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Pentecostal Theology

AbstractThis article is a response to Tony Moon's scholarly charge that this author has overstated his case regarding Bishop J. H. King's Pentecostal theology of religions. Dr Moon urges a more moderate move, but I respectfully argue that he is missing my point regarding King's theology of religions as at its core characterized by optimism, that is, by a positive and balanced but non-dogmatic sense of hopefulness.

J.H. King and a Pentecostal Theology of Religions and Interreligious Ecumenism: Lessons Learned and Suggestions for Future Research

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-317
Author(s):  
Tony G. Moon
Keyword(s):  
Future Study ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
First Century ◽  
Historical Research ◽  
Theological Method ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Pentecostal Theology ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
Historical Theology

The 2007-2010 Journal of Pentecostal Theology debate between Tony Richie and me about J.H. King’s theology of religions focused on both historical theology and constructive-theological method relative to the use of King’s writings as a resource for developing a twenty-first century Pentecostal theology of religions. For me, two major lessons emerged which suggest that future study of King’s and perhaps other early Pentecostal thinkers’ theology of religions will need to be especially attentive to at least two broad tasks: careful historical research and pursuit of a common and precise inclusivist terminology by collaborating scholars. This work is necessary because it relates directly to the issue of the extent of King’s pertinence for the construction of both a Pentecostal theology of religions and a Pentecostal theology and praxis of interreligious ecumenism. If King was merely an accessibilist-inclusivist, and I firmly believe that was the case, then his relevance is greatly diminished.

Continuing the Conversation on King: My Really Final Response to Tony Moon?

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-179
Author(s):  
Tony Richie
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
World Religions ◽  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Pentecostal Theology ◽  
Final Response ◽  
Per Se

AbstractTony Richie contends that Bishop J.H. King and a close circle of comrades and colleagues, influential in early Pentecostalism as leading administrators, educators, thinkers, and writers, and including G.F. Taylor and A.A. Boddy, exhibited various levels of (what today is known as) inclusivism regarding Christian theology of religions. He suggests this striking discovery has significant import for the developing field of Pentecostal theology of religions. However, as Tony Moon has rightly pointed out, King did not present non-Christian religions as direct divine instruments or agents of Christ's atonement benefits. Richie agrees with Moon that King primarily encourages hope for some of the humanly unevangelized. Yet Richie, in agreement with Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, also argues that King's thought can be particularly complex. King's complexity especially shows in his perception of the trans-historical 'essential Christ' and 'religion of Christ'. Thus, Richie persistently suggests that at least King, but probably Taylor too, holds out a well-grounded but cautiously guarded optimism, not so much on world religions per se, as in the boundless Christ and an unbounded—but not boundary-less—religion firmly and forever rooted in the revelation of and redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Nature of Pentecostal Theology: A Response to Velli-Matti Kärkkäinen and Amos Yong

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-213
Author(s):  
Robert P. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Pentecostal Theology ◽  
The World ◽  
Theological Orientation ◽  
Inclusive Theology

The author offers a response to Velli-Matti Kärkkäinen’s essay, ‘Pentecostal Pneumatology of Religions: The Contribution of Pentecostalism to Our Understanding of the Work of God’s Spirit in the World’, which appeared in The Spirit in the World (2009) and often cites the work of Amos Yong. The author, who also draws from their wider writings, argues that while Kärkkäinen and Yong hail from Pentecostal backgrounds, their theological orientation is charismatic rather than Pentecostal; their approach is pneumatological rather than Pentecostal; and their methodology is ecumenical rather than Evangelical. More specifically, the author suggests that Kärkkäinen and Yong’s call for Pentecostals to embrace a more inclusive theology of religions is fraught with perils.

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