Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

LOVE     and Pentecostal-   Charismatic Spirituality I was intrigued by the writings of researchers who are exploring what they call the Science of Godly Love. A Templeton Foundation Report from last year (2013) featured some findings by researchers Matthew T. Lee, Margaret M. Poloma, and Stephen G. Post. Here are some quotes from the report: Ø   Almost half of all Americans feel God’s love at least once a day Ø   Eight out of ten have this experience at least once in a while. Ø   A similar number have felt God’s love prompting their compassion for others at least occasionally, with almost a third feeling this compassion daily or more often. Ø   Millions of Americans frequently experience divine love and for them this sense of God’s love not only enhances existential well-being, but underlies a sense of personal meaning and purpose and enlivens compassion for others…(Matthew T. Lee) An interesting phrase is what the...

How God  Oral Roberts 1958, UPI   heals and helps “God spared my life for a reason,” Dave testified following a close brush with death by a tornado.* “My husband’s not expected to live; please pray,” pleaded Becky as she posted from her husband’s hospital room.*             Christians have long believed in the power of prayer. Perhaps it is better theology to say many Christians believe in the power of God to cause a change in people or in the natural world in response to prayer. Beliefs about prayer and how God works can make a difference; as I suggested in a previous post . All God beliefs In classical Pentecostal traditions, believers claimed divine healing as a right. Something guaranteed by God to those who believed. As a boy, I went to a tent meeting put on by Oral Roberts not far from my home in Southern New Jersey. I recall lines of people waiting for a miracle. Throughout history, som...

HEALING  PRAYER Not a week goes by that I don’t see a request for prayers on Facebook or via email. Pain and suffering touches every one. People of all ages.  Growing up in UK and US Pentecostal churches, I learned that people pray for healing.      There was anointing with oil.           Loud pleas for healing                Reminders to God, that he promised healing                     And there were stories of what God had done. As I grew and decades passed, Pentecostals got older Pain and suffering persisted       People found relief through medical care            But they continued to pray and hope                 Prayers for healing spread beyond Pentecostal churches             ...