O espírito no mundo: pneumatologia pentecostal em diálogo com Paul Tillich

Abstract

Based on the dialog between Pentecostal pneumatology and Paul Tillich, the possibility of recovery of prophetic elements from the origins of Pentecostalism, which present potential for transformation of society, is affirmed. It is necessary to overcome fundamentalist and authoritarian elements which were introduced in classical Pentecostalism throughout its historical development. This dialog between Pentecostalism and Paul Tillich, on the horizon of public theology, presents potential for significant changes of Pentecostal work in society. This research will show the possibility of a certain type of Pentecostalism which does not contradict but intensifies the prophetic dimension and democratic values. The first chapter presents the profile of Pentecostal pneumatology, mainly the Assemblies of God. It discourses about the distinctive character of its pneumatology, prioritizing its religious experience, entitled baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit concedes power to witness Christ and promote transformation, of both the individual and of society. The second chapter offers an exposition of Paul Tillich’s pneumatology, it discourses about its fundamental theological concepts, that is, its method of correlation, the relation between philosophy and theology, reason and revelation; and mainly, the connection between the Spirit and religion, culture and ambiguities of existence. This chapter demonstrates the liberating and transforming potential of Tillich’s pneumatology. The Spirit struggles against the demonic, present in the churches and groups, which absolutize themselves and behave as owners of the divine truth. These are, certainly, relevant theological contributions to the dialog with the Pentecostal perspective. Finally, the third chapter defends the thesis that Pentecostal theology needs to take in the totality of the social order, its institutions, including the secular dimension, as realities which participate in the Kingdom of God in the Spirit even if only fragmentarily. This concept can result in the overcoming of dualisms and demonizations of cultural, religious, and political aspects, usually present in Pentecostalisms. Toward this end, there is dialog with some of Tillich’s concepts, such as, the Spiritual Presence, theology of culture, ambiguity, the demonic, the New Being, etc. Besides this, we seek to value and present the sociopolitical implications of Pentecostal pneumatology, above all, its experience of the Spirit, which resulted in the profanation of conventional forms of Christian ministry, returning it to those from whom it had been taken. In this way the protagonism of the excluded is made possible. The unity and diversity of the churches, the theology of the cross and eschatological pneumatology are the theological elements pointed out in this dissertation, as well, for a balanced, transforming and prophetic Pentecostal participation in the public sphere.