Pentecostal Movement Its Impact Among the Dalits and Tribal in India
I. Introduction
The prime focus of this paper is to explore the modern Pentecostal or charismatic movement and its impacts among the Dalits and the tribal in India. In this paper the presenter will also try to bring out a brief origins and historical development of Pentecostalism, in order to understand the movement and its impact on the Dalits and the tribal in India.
1. Etymology of the term Pentecostal
The term Pentecostal is derived from the Greek word pentekosté which literally means ‘fifty’. It is the Greek name for the Jewish festival known as the ‘Feast of Weeks’ in the Old Testament, which celebrates the fiftieth day after Passover observances. The New Testament used the term to refer to the established Jewish feast. However, since the gift of the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Christians reinterpreted the meaning of it in terms of this event. One of the features of the Pentecostals is the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
2. Who are the Dalits?
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous social groups from all over India; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions. There are many different names proposed for defining this group of people, including Panchamas ("fifth varna"), and Asprushya ("untouchables"). Dalits are outcastes falling outside the traditional four-fold caste system consisting of the hereditary Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra classes; they are considered impure and polluted and are therefore physically and socially excluded and isolated from the rest of society.
3. Who are the Tribal?
All over India tribal are generally known by the word Adivasi, Pazhanguli, etc., literally meaning indigenous people or original inhabitants of India. It is believed that the prehistoric India was inhabited first by the Negritos, later
The prime focus of this paper is to explore the modern Pentecostal or charismatic movement and its impacts among the Dalits and the tribal in India. In this paper the presenter will also try to bring out a brief origins and historical development of Pentecostalism, in order to understand the movement and its impact on the Dalits and the tribal in India.
1. Etymology of the term Pentecostal
The term Pentecostal is derived from the Greek word pentekosté which literally means ‘fifty’. It is the Greek name for the Jewish festival known as the ‘Feast of Weeks’ in the Old Testament, which celebrates the fiftieth day after Passover observances. The New Testament used the term to refer to the established Jewish feast. However, since the gift of the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Christians reinterpreted the meaning of it in terms of this event. One of the features of the Pentecostals is the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
2. Who are the Dalits?
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous social groups from all over India; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions. There are many different names proposed for defining this group of people, including Panchamas ("fifth varna"), and Asprushya ("untouchables"). Dalits are outcastes falling outside the traditional four-fold caste system consisting of the hereditary Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra classes; they are considered impure and polluted and are therefore physically and socially excluded and isolated from the rest of society.
3. Who are the Tribal?
All over India tribal are generally known by the word Adivasi, Pazhanguli, etc., literally meaning indigenous people or original inhabitants of India. It is believed that the prehistoric India was inhabited first by the Negritos, later