Abstract:
Religious encounters are essential to every religious tradition in which the worshipper
encounters the divine. Although religious experiences have been reported in many
religious traditions, they occupy a premium place in Pentecostalism. Given the
ontological distinction between humans and the transcendent, the Abrahamic religions
speak about revelation, where the divine is revealed to the worshipper. This article
explores the Pentecostal understanding of religious experiences, particularly in relation
to whether religious experiences are immediate revelations. The article examines
prophecies, words of knowledge and testimonies from personal encounters to ascertain
whether they constitute immediate revelation. In other words, what is the epistemological
relevance of such experiences? Further, if such expressions or personal encounters can be
equated to immediate revelation, how should such revelations be understood in the
broader context of divine revelation? This article argues that religious experiences
are subjective and can only be valid if they do not contradict biblical teachings. Lastly,
the article argues that religious encounters in Pentecostalism raise many theological
questions and objections because they have been overemphasised, overgeneralised and
inform its hermeneutics.
INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : The article contributes to the current
discussion on discerning divine presence using the methods of analytic theology. The article
looks at how Pentecostalism biblicised and appropriated its current spiritual experiences into
redemptive history, especially with respect to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the book of
Acts of the Apostles.
