Pentecostals, European Union and Nationalism

This chapter looks at the overall approach of European Pentecostals to Europe as a divided/unified continent, in view of its particular religious history and its cultural diversity. Particular attention will be given to Euroscepticism within European Pentecostalism and major differences between Protestant Pentecostals and Roman Catholic Pentecostals, as they relate with quite different theological approaches and frameworks to European institutions, such as those of the European Union. The significance of the widespread impact of dispensationalism on Pentecostalism in that respect shall be assessed. In order to analyse how European Pentecostals have been relating to nationalism, key political concepts, such as sovereignty, the nation-state, citizenship and patriotism, shall be examined. Issues linked to Pentecostal identification with Europe and European identity will be examined in light of a theological re-evaluation of major biblical concepts readily found within Pentecostalism. Where unity and reconciliation are understood as an expression of the ministry of the Spirit, European Pentecostals are able to contribute to the ecumenical vision and life of the church all across European nations. They are thus helping build—all over the European continent and at all levels of European societies—bridges where there are none.