Journalist Elle Hardy remembers her astonishment at seeing a replica of King Solomon’s Temple rising over Sao Paulo.
Allegedly built according to biblical specifications, this massive structure is located in a working-class district of the Brazilian metropolis. Star of David flags are ubiquitous in Sao Paulo, but the edifice modeled after the Temple is extraordinary. And while one might assume that the building is a place of Jewish worship, it’s actually a megachurch associated with one of the fastest-growing religions in the world: Pentecostalism.
“I felt as though the Star of David flags, and almost the Jewish people themselves, have become totems of the Pentecostal charismatic movement,” Hardy told The Times of Israel.
A branch of evangelical Protestant Christianity founded in its modern state roughly a century ago, Pentecostalism is marked by an emphasis on the Holy Spirit — sometimes through colorful practices such as handling poisonous snakes or speaking in tongues.
With 600 million believers worldwide, it’s growing at an estimated pace of 35,000 converts a day. It’s also characterized by an interest in Jews and Israel that’s arguably greater — and more controversial — than other Christian denominations. Despite its growing numbers and rising influence on right-wing populist leaders, from former US president Donald Trump to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Pentecostalism has generated relatively little interest in academia and the general public. Hardy aims to change this in her new book, “Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity is Taking Over the World.” READ MORE
