DIRECTORY 337
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
1872, Pittsburgh, PAThe Jehovah’s Witnesses
(pp.312–13) have their roots in
the International Bible Students’
Association. They believe that Jesus
Christ was not, himself, God, but
God’s first creation. They anticipate
the coming of the kingdom of God,
reject nationalism, and dispute
doctrines such as the Trinity. The
Church aims to convert others by
door-to-door proselytizing.CHURCH OF CHRIST
(SCIENTIST)
1879, Boston, MAMary Baker Eddy dedicated her
life to reviving the early healing
ministry of Jesus after she was
cured without medical treatment
following an injury. Eddy claimed
to be able to heal the sick, and
believed that those who understand
the link between God and love can
also become healers. She founded
the Church of Christ (Scientist) in- Eddy’s own writings and the
Bible form the basis of the religion.
Services feature readings from both,
but have no sermons. Christian
Science is today established in
more than 80 countries.
PENTECOSTALISM
1900–1906, Topeka, KS;
Los Angeles, CAPentecostal churches are prevalent
in the developing world, and in
poorer communities in the
developed world. They take their
name from the first Pentecost,
(p.219) when the Holy Spirit is said
to have descended on the Apostlesas tongues of flame. The Churches’
roots are in the work of the preacher
Charles Parham. These Churches
emphasize spiritual experiences,
such as healing, exorcism, prophecy,
and speaking in tongues after
baptism in the Holy Spirit. Parham’s
student, William J. Seymour,
founded the Apostolic Faith Gospel
Mission in Los Angeles, which
inspired the founding of Pentecostal
Churches worldwide.CHARISMATIC
MOVEMENT
1950s–60s, variousThe Charismatic movement is a
worldwide movement of Christian
revival. At its heart is the belief
in the charismata, or gifts of the
Holy Spirit (p.219). Worship tends
to be informal and the Second
Coming of Christ is often seen as
imminent. The movement stresses
the importance of the Holy Spirit,
which is said to enter believers
during baptism.NEW AFRICAN CHURCHES
20th century, AfricaThe last hundred years have seen
the rapid rise of a specifically
African form of Christianity south
of the Sahara. In the late 19th
century, Africans began to reject the
Christianity imported by Western
missionaries, creating independent
African Churches. The largest
include the Kimbanguists, founded
in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, with some 10 million
members; and the similarly sized
Celestial Church of Christ in Benin.
Many of these Churches arose in
times of persecution and have a
strong sense of sacred places.the Christian Churches had distorted
Jesus’s true message. Followers
adhere to Jesus’s teachings but
reject the doctrine of the Holy Trinity
and look forward to the Second
Coming of Christ. The Church does
not ordain priests, and its members
do not vote or take part in politics,
and reject military service.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
CHURCH
1863, Battle Creek, MI
Adventists are Protestant Christians
who believe in the imminent Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. At this time,
known as the Advent, Christ will
return to earth, destroy Satan, and
create a new world. The American
Adventist William Miller claimed
this process would begin around
- When it did not, he blamed
people’s refusal to keep the Sabbath
(hence the term Seventh-day
Adventist) and founded the Church
in 1863. Adventists follow the
dietary rules of the Old Testament,
eschew worldly pursuits (such as
gambling and dancing), and observe
the Sabbath on Saturday.
THE SALVATION ARMY
1865, London, England
Methodist preacher William Booth
founded the Salvation Army in
London in 1865. His beliefs were
strongly influenced by his religious
background, but the sect’s
organization was inspired by the
military. The church leader is its
general and its ministers are officers
and wear uniforms. Booth’s aim was
to do missionary and social work
on a large, organized scale, and the
denomination gained a reputation
for helping the poor.