Validation of Authority in Pentecostal Sects of Chile and Brazil

This paper is a comparative study of three Pentecostal sects, two in Chile and one in Brazil. Opposing the traditional class system in which they rank low, the Pentecostal sects seek to shape their own structure after an egalitarian model in which all criteria of conventional ranking as practiced by...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Willems, Emilio 1905-1997 (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell [1967]
In: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Year: 1967, Volume: 6, Issue: 2, Pages: 253-258
Further subjects:B Social classes
B Supernaturalism
B Secessionism
B Prophets
B Schisms
B Protestantism
B Egalitarianism
B Pastors
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:This paper is a comparative study of three Pentecostal sects, two in Chile and one in Brazil. Opposing the traditional class system in which they rank low, the Pentecostal sects seek to shape their own structure after an egalitarian model in which all criteria of conventional ranking as practiced by the wider society are rejected. In reality, however, compromise with authoritarian principles seems rather common. Comparison of the three cases shows that the closer a sect comes to the egalitarian model the more its leaders feel the need to validate their authority by seeking supernatural sanctions for their decisions.
ISSN:1468-5906
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/1384051