Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity is Taking Over the World

How has a Christian movement, founded at the turn of the twentieth century by the son of freed slaves, become the fastest-growing religion on Earth? Neo-Charismatic Pentecostalism has some 600 million followers worldwide, and by 2050 their numbers will grow to 1 billion: that's one in ten people. This is the religion of the Holy Spirit, with believers gaining direct experience of God and all that comes with it: success for the mind, body, spirit and wallet.

But Pentecostalism is also a cultural movement. It speaks to the most impoverished people in Africa and Latin America, and inspires anti-establishment leaders from Europe to Australia, South Korea to Brazil. It throws itself into culture wars and online activism, offering meaning and community to rootless Westerners adrift in a fragmenting world.

*Beyond Belief* is the first journalistic investigation into this revolution exploding across the globe. Visiting twelve countries and eight American states, Elle Hardy exposes a timeless tale of miracles, money and power, set in our volatile age of extremes. She exposes the Pentecostalist agenda: not just saving souls, but transforming societies. These modern prophets, quietly embedded in our institutions, have the cash and the influence to do it.

**'A fantastic read. Hardy gets right into the nucleus of the Pentecostal movement with empathy and a sharp journalistic eye. An incredibly important book.' -- Erica Buist, author of *This Party's Dead: Grief, Joy and Spilled Rum at the World's Death Festivals***

**'An arresting, page-turning narrative, worthy of the pageantry, vivacity and charm of Pentecostalism. Ambitious in its coverage and earnest in its exploration, *Beyond Belief* is a truly compelling account of the world's foremost Christian renewal movement.' -- Ebenezer Obadare, author of *Pentecostal Republic***

**'Informative, engaging, and unsettling, *Beyond Belief* is an in-depth exploration of global Pentecostalism in lively, accessible prose.' -- Chrissy Stroop, journalist, commentator and senior researcher on the Postsecular Conflicts Project**Read less