Romani Pentecostalism ― Gypsies and Charismatic Christianity

Presented here are 15 chapters drawn from papers given at a symposium held in Stockholm, Sweden, in November 2009 on the rise of Pentecostalism in Romani communities in Europe. History, sociology, anthropology, and religious studies scholars who have studied local variants of Romani Pentecostalism in different parts of Europe address the history and impact of Romani Pentecostalism, within the wider context of the history and development of nonconformist religious denominations in Europe, in terms of Clement Le Cossec and the emergence of the Vie et Lumiere organization in France, and in terms of the emergence of new churches in Eastern Europe. They then consider the role of identity and social status in Romani Pentecostalism in Bulgaria, Spain, Slovakia, the UK, and Transylvania; aspects of religious life, including music, personal testimonies, the synchronization of traditional customs into worship practices, gender issues, and leaders; and Romani revivalism in South America and Turkey. The volume ends with a bibliography of translations of the Bible into different dialects of the Romani language. Annotation c2014 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

David Thurfjell is Associate Professor in the study of religions at Sodertorn University in Stockholm. He has published mainly within the fields of Islamic and Romani studies, amongst others on faith and revivalism among the Kaale Roma in Sweden and Finland.
Adrian Marsh has been working amongst Gypsy communities in Turkey, taught Romani Studies and carried out research across Europe and the Balkans. He was consultant for the British Council in Turkey, for the EC Promoting Roma Rights in Turkey project and the Save the Children Sweden’s Europe programme. He continues working in Istanbul and is a Romany-Traveller.