Pentecostal exorcisms in London: creative and integrative rituals in a multicultural city

ended

A common practice throughout much of the history of Christianity, the expulsion of demonic entities, also known as exorcism, continues to occur on a regular basis in the capital cities of Europe. These religious rituals are customary in Pentecostalism, a form of Protestantism that grew exponentially in the last century, especially in Lain America and Africa. However, although most of the studies about Pentecostalism in the Global South observe the importance of exorcisms, the literature about this religious movement's diaspora to Europe focuses more on the integration of participants in a migratory context, which leaves a gap in the analysis of these researches. Thus, PENTEX aims to analyse Pentecostal exorcisms in two Pentecostal churches (one from Latin America and one from Africa) in London, United Kingdom, by acknowledging these rituals' creative (in which outside practices are re-signified) and integrative (in which they control and regulated the participants' practices and social roles) features. Furthermore, PENTEX aims to observe the conviviality of Pentecostals with other social groups in London and the role and adaptation of exorcisms in these interactions. PENTEX will also analyse cases of violence in the city that resemble Pentecostal exorcisms, by observing if the churches' spiritual warfare against evil and demonisation may materialize into violence, and how the participants, NGOs that promote human rights, and policymakers understand these cases.