Pentecostalism in Latin America - Berger uses Latin America (Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela & Peru) to show how religion is spurring on Global Economic Development.Pentecostalism is spreading through Latin America stressing hard work, discipline, commitment etc. just like Weber’s ‘Protestant Ethic’. Berger agrees with Weber that an ethic like Protestantism is necessary to promote economic development and raise a society out of poverty. this process can be led by an active minority with an ethic of this-worldly asceticism, such as the pentecostalists. However beger notes that religious ideas alone are not enough to produce economic development - natural resources are needed.
Pentecostalism: global and local - Christianity has globalised itself out of Europe. Lehmann (2002) distinguishes between two phases of expansion. 1. Christianity accompanied colonisation and was imposed on the indigenous populations by conquest, often forcibly surpassing local religions. 2. In the second phase it spread because it gained popular following. its success has derived from the religions ability to incorporate local beliefs. It preaches a similar message world wide but adopts symbols from local culture.It has similar beliefs around exorcisms to that of the local culture but instead does it in the name of God. This ability to adapt has given Pentecostalism considerable local diversity in different part of the world.