Religion and society in interaction in New Zealand

Abstract

The rapid growth of Charismatic Renewal in the 1970s and 1980s in New Zealand is located within a period of marked social change. This thesis explores questions raised by changes in society, the answers offered by Charismatic Renewal and the nature of this interaction between Charismatic Renewal and wider society. Little sociological research has been carried out in this area. It seems likely that answers offered by Charismatic Renewal - the provision of direction, the 'Truth', community, a non-rational reality and self-esteem - are related closely to needs elicited by a rapidly changing society. Strong support was found for Charismatic Renewal providing an answer to overcome feelings of helplessness and insecurity and to the modern challenge to the plausibility of beliefs. It was found that Charismatic Renewal needs the structure of a well-developed community network to ensure its maintenance. To a lesser extent, research revealed that Charismatic Renewal answers needs for non-rational ways of understanding and for self-esteem. The conclusions of this thesis are centred on research into a particular parish in a mainstream denomination.