TY - CHAP

T1 - Pentecostal Public Reason

T2 - A Dialogue with Jürgen Habermas on Rationality, Religion and Democracy

AU - Frestadius, Simo

PY - 2024/7

Y1 - 2024/7

N2 - This chapter explores Pentecostal reason in democratic public discourse in dialogue with Jürgen Habermas. It begins by discussing Habermas’s vision for the role of religion in a post-secular society, with reference to his concept of postmetaphysical philosophy. It then looks more specifically at what Pentecostals should think of liberal democracy as a polity (system for governing public and political life) and how they should engage in public discourse within a democracy. The chapter’s main argument is that like Habermas (European) Pentecostals have good reasons to embrace—not just tolerate—the liberal democratic polity, because Pentecostals affirm the worth and value of every person, Pentecostalism is itself a religion of radical choice, and at the heart of Pentecostal spirituality lies a democratic impulse. However, unlike Habermas who maintains that only a neutral postmetaphysical rationality should be utilised in the formal public sphere, it is suggested that Pentecostals should be allowed to employ their distinctive Pentecostal reasoning in all spheres of public discussion, although this comes with the proviso that their arguments should be interpreted for the benefit of the wider public and they should be open to revision in the process of public debate.

AB - This chapter explores Pentecostal reason in democratic public discourse in dialogue with Jürgen Habermas. It begins by discussing Habermas’s vision for the role of religion in a post-secular society, with reference to his concept of postmetaphysical philosophy. It then looks more specifically at what Pentecostals should think of liberal democracy as a polity (system for governing public and political life) and how they should engage in public discourse within a democracy. The chapter’s main argument is that like Habermas (European) Pentecostals have good reasons to embrace—not just tolerate—the liberal democratic polity, because Pentecostals affirm the worth and value of every person, Pentecostalism is itself a religion of radical choice, and at the heart of Pentecostal spirituality lies a democratic impulse. However, unlike Habermas who maintains that only a neutral postmetaphysical rationality should be utilised in the formal public sphere, it is suggested that Pentecostals should be allowed to employ their distinctive Pentecostal reasoning in all spheres of public discussion, although this comes with the proviso that their arguments should be interpreted for the benefit of the wider public and they should be open to revision in the process of public debate.

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-61301-2_11

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-61301-2_11

M3 - Chapter

SN - 978-3-031-61300-5

SP - 197

EP - 218

BT - Pentecostal Public Theology

A2 - Frestadius, Simo

A2 - Cartledge, Mark

PB - Palgrave Macmillan

CY - Cham

ER -