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The Hallelujah Revolution: The Rise of the New Christians by Ian Cotton published by Prometheus Books

A new Christian religious revival is sweeping the world. It is a conservative, politically motivated fundamentalism that is challenging (and be challenged by) traditional Christian concern for the poor, the needy, and the underprivileged in an age of uncertainty. The Hallelujah Revolution examines and explains this new evangelical/charismatic movement that is revolutionizing what it means to be a Christian today. Author Ian Cotton approaches this controversial subject with sensitivity and insight. His investigation gets to the heart of the new style of religious worship: its focus on miracles, healings, divine intervention, and the raising of the dead. He traces the roots of the movement to 1960s counterculture and points out interesting connections to broader 20th century trends like the New Age and Green movements, the information revolution, irrationalism, and the pervasive malaise of mass uncertainty. It's "global Christianity with a new-look, high-tech spirituality of unprecedented drive and clout." For anyone who thinks evangelism is just another name for right-wing conservatism, Cotton describes the new, left-of-center groups who are invading America, Europe, and Asia, spearheaded by explosively growing global organizations like March For Jesus. Cotton also explores the psychology of converts, including recent neurological research that links religious conversions to specific operations of the brain. In a visit to Dr. Michael Persinger's neuroscience laboratory at Laurentian University, he submits to brain experiments designed to induce mystical experiences through electrical stimulation, with fascinating results. Thought-provoking and entertaining, The Hallelujah Revolution reveals the inner workings and widespread influence of a charismatic global revival that could be one of the major social movements of the next millennium. Ian Cotton is a British journalist who has written for The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Daily Telegraph, and The Guardian. "A fascinating look at some of the social, psychological, and even neurological explanations [for the Charismatic movement in England]. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries." --Library Journal ". . . important contribution to understanding a socially dynamic religious movement." --Dallas Morning News "[Cotton] won my immediate approval for recognizing a newsworthy religious story that is neither scandalous nor violent. . . . His interviews and his reports of worship and service take us into the heart of the movement." --The Trenton Times ". . . an interesting analysis of the perplexing explosion of Evangelical/Charismatic Christianity that is infiltrating and even replacing the mainstream denominations." --The Human Quest "Cotton writes with a clever journalistic style which reveals an impish sense of humor, but which rests heavily upon a knowledge of contemporary English culture. --Christian Standard

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