20SP_RE201A-CI-Christianity

Before reading this article and watching the videos, I had no idea how one sided Christianity was and how much hate was involved with anyone that thought differently than mainline Christians did. It definitely changed the way that I view Christianity now because it is accepting of anyone and everyone and has made me much more appreciative of the time that we live in now. 

I'm curious about the reaction from political/police figures to a racially integrated church. We mostly read about the reaction from other denominations and the media. However we know that efforts to integrate various institutions in America were frequently met with violence, so did William Seymour and his congregation run into that? 

I find Pentecostalism to be interesting in the fact that the reason it became so popular was because of the amusement and intriguing aspect of speaking in tongue which outsiders to believe was the work of the Devil. 

Seems a little odd that women were not aloud to get married or even cut their hair, seems like in a way it’s taking away part of their freedom.

I found it interesting how Seymour basically used fear to get people to follow him.  He used the fear of the world's end to get people to to believe that he was preaching the truth.  Basically his church is built on lies, but it's still growing and that does not make sense to me at all 

I had never really understood or was taught about Pentecostalism growing up and still feel confused as to the origin of this religion. William Seymour believed a reckoning was near to give way to the 'New Jerusalem' where the "destitute, the overlooked, and the forgotten would come into their own." The San Andreas fault line settling during the high of Seymour's preaching added to his message and following, but how has this religion continued to spread when it is evident the end is not near and the reckoning never happened? 

So Pentecostalism accepted racial integration, and mainline churches did not. But where there other religions that did accept racial integration during this time, or was it strictly the Pentecostals that did?

Something that I found interesting but also confusing is the fact that Pentecostals were shunned from their home church. Also, when the first Pentecostal split happened, I found it awesome that the Pacific Apostolic Faith Movement believed in breaking the racial barriers.

I found it intriguing to see the shift of being ordained being a requirement to preach to being overcome by speaking in tongues. I could see why people were skeptical of speaking in tongues because how to you legitimalize this "slain by the spirit"? Anyone could say they had been slain by the Spirit based off of FOMO (fear of missing out). Although I do not know if I believe in all the aspects of being slain by the spirit, falling down, I do believe that it made a relationship with religion in general more accessible for all and I do agree with heading in that direction. 

I have more questions about the first Pentecost. Like why was that specific time frame had to be the first Pentecost. I want to know the history behind the Pentecost as a whole. 

I found it very interesting to read about how blurring the color line basically built the church, but then eventually tore it down and caused separations. I did not know much about Pentecostalism before this lesson so I found this part very intriguing. 

One thing about pentecostalism that was interesting and confusing at the same time for me was the idea of the rejection of worldly things. Women not cutting their hair and not getting married seems a little overbearing.

I was really surprised at how they are against marriages and also so against women cutting their hair and making them wear long dresses. I think women should be able to do what they please and not have to fall for these wants by other people. I was kind of confused at why they were so against marriages?

the fact of how racism in the church is much stronger than I thought it changed my view. 

I did not realize that they were so against the idea of getting married. It makes sense that if they feel that the world is going to end soon then there is no point in personally doing anything permanent and long term like that but it does not make sense to me why they are so against other people getting married. Also, how can they be so sure that the world will end so soon that nothing really matters and wouldn't that affect a lot of other aspects of their lives? It seems like that would cause them to make bad career and education decisions. If I knew the world was going to end soon I would not do all of the work that I don't want to do.

Did they only focus and teach out of the books of acts or was that just the main base of Pentecostalism?  I am curious about this because they did not mention any other books, but there are a bunch more in the Bible.  

I knew nothing about Pentecostalism so Seymour and Azusa all shifted my thinking.

I do not understand why they put so much stock into emotional experiences.  The Indian school catching on fire, that guy's wife floating, exorcisms and miracles, speaking in tongues.  Why were all of these important to them?  Especially when they were concerned with humble lifestyles.  It seems to me bragging about seeing the holy fires of God isn't very humble of a person.

I was not previously aware of the level of intolerance the mainline churches showed to new churches in the 1900s, such as the Pentecostalists. I was also amazed at the level of arrogance the mainlines displayed with their belief that they had all the answers.    

The extent of racism really shifted my thinking when it came to the readings and lessons. Previously, I had thought of the Church as a haven from racism, even during times of Jim Crow. I would never have imagined that they would be advocated for segregation. It shows how deep the issue of racism really ran in America.  

When I first read the passage, I did not think that people of different races and incomes were allowed to participate in certain religions, but the  Pentecostalism religion accepted all who had the holy spirit.