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Papers by Randall Holm

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, Dec 8, 2016

The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan's "Changing Conceptions ... more The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan's "Changing Conceptions of Speaking in Tongues and Spirit Baptism Among Canadian Pentecostal Clergy" were initially presented at the Canadian Symposium, an annual gathering of the Canadian Pentecostal Research Network, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. The session took place at Life Pacific College in San Dimas, California on March 10, 2016. The piece concludes with Gabriel and Stewart's reply to the respondents, demonstrating that this conversation is an ongoing dialogue.

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, Dec 8, 2018

Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for C... more Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for Christian believers. Notably, it is a powerful experience often interpreted as a direct encounter with God when it first occurs. Despite the assumption by some Pentecostal-charismatic groups that they have a monopoly on it, the experience of speaking in tongues has remained, (sporadically at the least) throughout Christian history, and has found recent entrance into various denominations. Yet although it is practiced by probably hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the phenomenon remains an elusive and under-researched field. We have conducted a series of interviews with tongues speakers to gauge how, at and after the initial event (usually called the Baptism in the Spirit), tongues continue to be experienced. The results demonstrate that for many Christians speaking in tongues continues to be an important part of their lives. Many report that praying in tongues has positive effects, such as enhancing their prayer lives or helping them pray for aspects they feel inadequate to address in their own language. Tongues empowers, calms, gives peace and is experienced as a form of prayer substantially different from praying in one's own language. As such, we conclude that because of its perceived benefits, the practice is here to stay.

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2010

Ronald Kydd is a notable and recognized scholar in Patristic studies as well as Charismatic/Pente... more Ronald Kydd is a notable and recognized scholar in Patristic studies as well as Charismatic/Pentecostal movements. With degrees from the University of Manitoba (1967), Lutheran Theological Seminary (1968) and the University of St. Andrews (PhD 1973), Kydd has published a modest number of books and academic articles that have been well received. He was also a well respected participant in the Roman Catholic–Pentecostal dialogue in the 1990s. Furthermore, he has served communities of Anglicans and Pentecostals through his teaching and pastoral responsibilities. His influence extends beyond his scholarly work and includes important contributions from his service to a number of church communities.

Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 2011

This paper follows up James Smith's contribution at the 2006 SPS conference where in his paper, "... more This paper follows up James Smith's contribution at the 2006 SPS conference where in his paper, "Tongues and Philosophy of Language: Conceptual Production at the Limits of Speech," Smith moved the conversation on ecstatic tongues-speech from asking what does tongues mean to what does tongues do? Continuing with on emphasis on doing over meaning, in this paper I am pressing the ontological button and revisiting the primordial question what then is tongues-speech? In particular I argue that if tongues-speech functions first and foremost as performance than it is performance that is less concerned with the form of tongues-speech and more concerned with the context of its delivery. Helping me along the way are Martin Buber and Abraham Heschel, two Jewish philosophers who may not have had tongues-speech in mind, but whose insights into faith and spirituality offer to connect the "ineffable in us with the ineffable beyond us."

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2016

The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan’s “Changing Conceptions ... more The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan’s “Changing Conceptions of Speaking in Tongues and Spirit Baptism Among Canadian Pentecostal Clergy” were initially presented at the Canadian Symposium, an annual gathering of the Canadian Pentecostal Research Network, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. The session took place at Life Pacific College in San Dimas, California on March 10, 2016. The piece concludes with Gabriel and Stewart’s reply to the respondents, demonstrating that this conversation is an ongoing dialogue.

Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for C... more Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for Christian believers. Notably, it is a powerful experience often interpreted as a direct encounter with God when it first occurs. Despite the assumption by some Pentecostal-charismatic groups that they have a monopoly on it, the experience of speaking in tongues has remained, (sporadically at the least) throughout Christian history, and has found recent entrance into various denominations. Yet although it is practiced by probably hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the phenomenon remains an elusive and under-researched field. We have conducted a series of interviews with tongues speakers to gauge how, at and after the initial event (usually called the Baptism in the Spirit), tongues continue to be experienced. The results demonstrate that for many Christians speaking in tongues continues to be an important part of their lives. Many report that praying in tongues has positive effects,...

Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 2002

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic …, 2010

Pneuma

Lauren Pond's non-paginated, provocative photo essay, Test of Faith: Signs, Serpents, Salvation p... more Lauren Pond's non-paginated, provocative photo essay, Test of Faith: Signs, Serpents, Salvation peers into a Signs Following church deep in the hills of West Virginia. Signs Followers or snake handlers as they are more popularly known, remain an elusive and seldom mentioned outlier of early Pentecostalism. With her camera in hand, Pond opens the door inside one such community. The year is 2011-2012 and the church is the Full Gospel Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus-a church whose tradition adheres quite literally to Christ's commission in Mark 16:15-18, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation…And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them" (NRSV).

From its beginnings 'Healing in the Atonement' has been one of the key platforms from which the P... more From its beginnings 'Healing in the Atonement' has been one of the key platforms from which the Pentecostal movement has branded itself. Disease and suffering were tagged as consequences of the Fall and in need of redemption not unlike the soul. Specifically, this presentation will explain why traditional constructions of 'healing in the atonement' gained immediate traction with Pentecostalism; demonstrate that contemporary applications of healing in the atonement frequently issue in violence to the sick, injured or diseased; argue that 'healing in the atonement' is crippled by a deficient understanding of creation and in particular human finiteness as it relates to sickness and/or death; and examine James K.A. Smith's 'Logic of Incarnation' to see if there is a constructive path here to formulate a theology of healing that remains faithful to Scripture and can maybe even be friendly to the more traditional atonement theories of healing. Keywords healing – atonement – illness – disease – cure – fall

Society of Pentecostal Studies conference paper 2014

Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture

Society of Pentecostal Studies (1994)

Eastern Journal of Practical Theology vole 5:2 (1991): 27-34.

Eastern Journal of Practical Theology 1993

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2010

Society of Pentecostal Studies Conference Paper 2004

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, Dec 8, 2016

The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan's "Changing Conceptions ... more The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan's "Changing Conceptions of Speaking in Tongues and Spirit Baptism Among Canadian Pentecostal Clergy" were initially presented at the Canadian Symposium, an annual gathering of the Canadian Pentecostal Research Network, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. The session took place at Life Pacific College in San Dimas, California on March 10, 2016. The piece concludes with Gabriel and Stewart's reply to the respondents, demonstrating that this conversation is an ongoing dialogue.

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, Dec 8, 2018

Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for C... more Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for Christian believers. Notably, it is a powerful experience often interpreted as a direct encounter with God when it first occurs. Despite the assumption by some Pentecostal-charismatic groups that they have a monopoly on it, the experience of speaking in tongues has remained, (sporadically at the least) throughout Christian history, and has found recent entrance into various denominations. Yet although it is practiced by probably hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the phenomenon remains an elusive and under-researched field. We have conducted a series of interviews with tongues speakers to gauge how, at and after the initial event (usually called the Baptism in the Spirit), tongues continue to be experienced. The results demonstrate that for many Christians speaking in tongues continues to be an important part of their lives. Many report that praying in tongues has positive effects, such as enhancing their prayer lives or helping them pray for aspects they feel inadequate to address in their own language. Tongues empowers, calms, gives peace and is experienced as a form of prayer substantially different from praying in one's own language. As such, we conclude that because of its perceived benefits, the practice is here to stay.

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2010

Ronald Kydd is a notable and recognized scholar in Patristic studies as well as Charismatic/Pente... more Ronald Kydd is a notable and recognized scholar in Patristic studies as well as Charismatic/Pentecostal movements. With degrees from the University of Manitoba (1967), Lutheran Theological Seminary (1968) and the University of St. Andrews (PhD 1973), Kydd has published a modest number of books and academic articles that have been well received. He was also a well respected participant in the Roman Catholic–Pentecostal dialogue in the 1990s. Furthermore, he has served communities of Anglicans and Pentecostals through his teaching and pastoral responsibilities. His influence extends beyond his scholarly work and includes important contributions from his service to a number of church communities.

Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 2011

This paper follows up James Smith's contribution at the 2006 SPS conference where in his paper, "... more This paper follows up James Smith's contribution at the 2006 SPS conference where in his paper, "Tongues and Philosophy of Language: Conceptual Production at the Limits of Speech," Smith moved the conversation on ecstatic tongues-speech from asking what does tongues mean to what does tongues do? Continuing with on emphasis on doing over meaning, in this paper I am pressing the ontological button and revisiting the primordial question what then is tongues-speech? In particular I argue that if tongues-speech functions first and foremost as performance than it is performance that is less concerned with the form of tongues-speech and more concerned with the context of its delivery. Helping me along the way are Martin Buber and Abraham Heschel, two Jewish philosophers who may not have had tongues-speech in mind, but whose insights into faith and spirituality offer to connect the "ineffable in us with the ineffable beyond us."

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2016

The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan’s “Changing Conceptions ... more The remarks of these three respondents to Gabriel, Stewart, and Shanahan’s “Changing Conceptions of Speaking in Tongues and Spirit Baptism Among Canadian Pentecostal Clergy” were initially presented at the Canadian Symposium, an annual gathering of the Canadian Pentecostal Research Network, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. The session took place at Life Pacific College in San Dimas, California on March 10, 2016. The piece concludes with Gabriel and Stewart’s reply to the respondents, demonstrating that this conversation is an ongoing dialogue.

Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for C... more Speaking in tongues is arguably one of the most controversial and lifeimpacting experiences for Christian believers. Notably, it is a powerful experience often interpreted as a direct encounter with God when it first occurs. Despite the assumption by some Pentecostal-charismatic groups that they have a monopoly on it, the experience of speaking in tongues has remained, (sporadically at the least) throughout Christian history, and has found recent entrance into various denominations. Yet although it is practiced by probably hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the phenomenon remains an elusive and under-researched field. We have conducted a series of interviews with tongues speakers to gauge how, at and after the initial event (usually called the Baptism in the Spirit), tongues continue to be experienced. The results demonstrate that for many Christians speaking in tongues continues to be an important part of their lives. Many report that praying in tongues has positive effects,...

Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 2002

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic …, 2010

Pneuma

Lauren Pond's non-paginated, provocative photo essay, Test of Faith: Signs, Serpents, Salvation p... more Lauren Pond's non-paginated, provocative photo essay, Test of Faith: Signs, Serpents, Salvation peers into a Signs Following church deep in the hills of West Virginia. Signs Followers or snake handlers as they are more popularly known, remain an elusive and seldom mentioned outlier of early Pentecostalism. With her camera in hand, Pond opens the door inside one such community. The year is 2011-2012 and the church is the Full Gospel Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus-a church whose tradition adheres quite literally to Christ's commission in Mark 16:15-18, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation…And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them" (NRSV).

From its beginnings 'Healing in the Atonement' has been one of the key platforms from which the P... more From its beginnings 'Healing in the Atonement' has been one of the key platforms from which the Pentecostal movement has branded itself. Disease and suffering were tagged as consequences of the Fall and in need of redemption not unlike the soul. Specifically, this presentation will explain why traditional constructions of 'healing in the atonement' gained immediate traction with Pentecostalism; demonstrate that contemporary applications of healing in the atonement frequently issue in violence to the sick, injured or diseased; argue that 'healing in the atonement' is crippled by a deficient understanding of creation and in particular human finiteness as it relates to sickness and/or death; and examine James K.A. Smith's 'Logic of Incarnation' to see if there is a constructive path here to formulate a theology of healing that remains faithful to Scripture and can maybe even be friendly to the more traditional atonement theories of healing. Keywords healing – atonement – illness – disease – cure – fall

Society of Pentecostal Studies conference paper 2014

Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture

Society of Pentecostal Studies (1994)

Eastern Journal of Practical Theology vole 5:2 (1991): 27-34.

Eastern Journal of Practical Theology 1993

Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2010

Society of Pentecostal Studies Conference Paper 2004

McMaster Biblical Studies series, Community: Biblical and Theological reflections in Honour of August KonKel, eds., Rick Wadholm Jr., Meghan D. Musy, Pickwick Publications. pp.93-102, 2022

A comparative look at the biblical book of Job in light of the TV series Breaking Bad

Testimony March 2013 vol 94.3

Testimony May 2010 - vol 91:5

Among Pentecostals, Acts 2 is a classic, but from my perch the birthing of the early church did n... more Among Pentecostals, Acts 2 is a classic, but from my perch the birthing of the early church did not begin in earnest until Acts 3 with the healing of the lame man on the Temple steps. And what elevates this defining moment is location. I suspect no one was prepared for the moment. The disciples themselves Peter and John and their involvement were clearly breaking new ground. The religious leaders quickly scrambled together a containment strategy. The instigators Peter and John could be arrested but from the perspective of the leaders they were only a minor problem. They had mortal means for taking care of mortal people but how would they contain God if he decides to go for a stroll outside. Panic was the order of the day. A spiritual frontier had been breached and those in charge trembled where God would show up next.

Testimony March 2008

In a recent interview Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of the mega best seller... more In a recent interview Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of the mega best seller, Purpose Driven Life, was asked how he correlates his theology that claims God knows the days of our lives in advance, "choosing the exact time of [our] birth and death" with people like those in Rwanda who have lived their entire lives in poverty and genocide? Tough question and a question that Warren himself deflected by calling on all people to work together to make this world a better place to live. 1 Nice save even if he did not answer the question. Maybe, however, our purpose is less the need to discover some grand plan that answers all of life's permutations, and more the ability to recognize and live in moments or seasons of grace when they occur -moments that may even catch us unawares.

Testimony: December 2007 - vol 88:11

Testimony: July 2007- vol. 88:7

Recently I gave in to my daughter's wish and joined the revolution otherwise known as Facebook-a ... more Recently I gave in to my daughter's wish and joined the revolution otherwise known as Facebook-a cyber social network that appears to be the rage today. The real reason I joined is probably vanity. Later this year I turn fifty and I'm desperate to perpetuate the myth that I'm too young for the technology ash heap. Imagine my surprise then when I discovered I had friends already on Facebook, lots and them and they want to talk.

Testimony: December 2009 - Vol. 90:11

Testimony 93:3 (2012)

A few years ago I had the mixed fortune of presiding over the funeral of my father-in-law. He is ... more A few years ago I had the mixed fortune of presiding over the funeral of my father-in-law. He is buried in a small town in north central Nfld. Typical of such towns the cemetery is located on the edge of town pitched in a stony field punctuated by wild grass and surrounded by a white picket fence. The bleached

Testimony: October 2008 - Vol. 89:9

Testimony: December 2008 - Vol. 89:11

Testimony; SEPTEMBER 2007 - VOL. 88:8

TESTIMONY April 2011 - Vol 92.4, 2011

Testimony: October 2011 - vol 92:8, 2011

Pneuma, 2019

Book review of Lauren Pond's photo essay: Test of Faith: Signs, Serpents, Salvation

Presentation at the Society of Pentecostal Studies, 2017

A look at the world of Bible compendiums and how they influence the reading of biblical text. Thi... more A look at the world of Bible compendiums and how they influence the reading of biblical text. This is just a partial example focusing on the cover, title and gifting page.

The following is an essay I presented in a public discussion forum several years ago. But in ligh... more The following is an essay I presented in a public discussion forum several years ago. But in light of the United States Supreme Court ruling which overturned Roe versus Wade I thought it might be time to revisit the question on abortion. And perhaps add a few updated thoughts.

Table Manners: Ivan Illich and the Good Samaritan, 2022

Pandemic aside, for some time, Christians and the LGBTQ+ community have been the dominate story ... more Pandemic aside, for some time, Christians and the LGBTQ+ community have been the dominate story of our day for the institutional church. This paper looks for a way through this difficult tension through the writings of the late Priest and philosopher Ivan Illich as he reflects on the story of the Good Samaritan.

A paper prepared for the 2020 Society of Pentecostal Study Conference. Because of Covid-19 the co... more A paper prepared for the 2020 Society of Pentecostal Study Conference. Because of Covid-19 the conference was postponed until 2021.

The data is in. Statistically, the rates of domestic abuse are as high, and often higher, among Christian families than they are among the general population. A consistent correlate of violence in Christian families (including Pentecostal families) is the traditional theology of male headship held by many conservative denominations. There are many variables that impact this research and that potentially influence much of the data. How is domestic abuse defined? What is the likelihood that victims and witnesses inside church families will report abuse when it occurs? Who are the primary victims? What is impact of domestic abuse on different types of victims? How is the church responding to abuse disclosures? Current research on the rates of domestic abuse in the Christian family are sobering and suggest that there are other “stains”, not just found in windows, that plague the modern church family.

This study by sociologist Valerie Hiebert (Providence University College (PUC), Manitoba) and Pentecostal theologian Randall Holm (PUC) will review the literature described above. Inasmuch as Pentecostals over the course of their history have accommodated most of the social and many of theological norms of “evangelicalism” in North America, including male headship and ambiguous attitudes towards female voice, similar rates among Pentecostals is not surprising.

As such, we posit that one way forward is a fresh emphasis on a pneumatological reading of the family and the church where the spirit is said to be poured out on all flesh equally, and abundantly. Where the spirit imagines an obliteration of hierarchies and embraces full mutuality in covenantal relationship. And where Scripture is not read propositionally with an eye to reaffirming hierarchal structural orders, but is read spaciously with an eye to welcoming in full fellowship the other as oneself in mutual interdependence, along with rethinking how the concept of forgiveness is employed in the context of domestic violence. And finally what could any of this mean in a process towards hopeful reconciliation of fractured domestic relationships.

A Paradigmatic Analysis of Authority Within Pentecostalism, 1995

The following is a chapter from my PH.D. dissertation. It represents an historical and sociologic... more The following is a chapter from my PH.D. dissertation. It represents an historical and sociological analysis of Spirit Baptism as experienced in The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). It was completed in 1995. Most recently (2022) the PAOC updated their position on Spirit Baptism. It now reads: "On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus poured out the promised Holy Spirit on the church. As his return draws near, Jesus continues to baptize in the Holy Spirit those who are believers. This empowers them to continue his work of proclaiming with speech and action the good news of the arrival and coming of the kingdom of God. This experience is available for everyone, male and female, of every age, status, and ethnicity. The sign of speaking in tongues indicates that believers have been baptized with the Holy spirit and signifies the nature of Spirit baptism as empowering our communications, to be his witnesses with speech and action as we continue to pray in the Spirit." Chapter 5 Spirit Baptism Pentecostals are most readily identified by their charismatic spirituality. Pentecostals speak in tongues. They do more than that but it is no mere hyperbolic affirmation to state, "The doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the single most distinctive teaching of Pentecostals."1 It is their unequivocal raison d'etre, their "pearl of great price,"2 that

A Paradigmatic Analysis of Authority with Pentecostalism, 1995

This is an Annex to my 1995 Ph.D. dissertation. It is largely self-explanatory. It comes after 20... more This is an Annex to my 1995 Ph.D. dissertation. It is largely self-explanatory. It comes after 20 years of theological study and pastoring. In review there is not much I would change today, except I would add something on soteriology as I have abandoned the substitutionary atonement of my youth where God has an anger management issue. And I would add something on the subject of heaven/hell and the human bent for fiery retribution. Annex D Personal Reflection Absolute objectivity is the "Holy Grail" of the research world. Yet the psychology of knowledge has demonstrated the fallacy of such a quest. Sociologist

randallholm.ca, 2022

It was the 70s. We had the Vietnam War, Roe vs. Wade, Watergate, the Cold War, Hal Lindsey and th... more It was the 70s. We had the Vietnam War, Roe vs. Wade, Watergate, the Cold War, Hal Lindsey and the Late Great Planet Earth, and the ultimate B movie, A Thief in the Night. Times were uncertain. In hindsight it was not surprising that there arose an evangelical wash of end time scenarios with heightened emphasis on Christian escapism. "I wished we'ed all be ready," sang the church.

Preparing to purge my office of dated Economist magazines, I stumbled upon a pre-Trump era articl... more Preparing to purge my office of dated Economist magazines, I stumbled upon a pre-Trump era article entitled "Drawbridges Up." For 2016 it accurately if not prophetically surmised that the world is no longer divided between the left and right ideologies of more government and less government rather it is between "drawbridges down" and "drawbridges up," where the former understands trade "makes the world richer," and the latter sees it as a threat. Where the former sees the world as a beautiful place to be embraced and the latter sees only sees threats and enemies to be resisted by raising draw bridges, building walls, and keeping undesirables out even if that means surrendering established human rights.

In 2016, we conducted 75 interviews with people who had spoken in tongues at least once in their ... more In 2016, we conducted 75 interviews with people who had spoken in tongues at least once in their lives. After a previous publication that summarizes the main findings, this second article enters into five questions. First, we looked at whether tongues are real languages or not; we found that in most cases, tongue speakers do not claim to speak in any known language, although three notable exceptions are discussed. We also examined our results as to whether they support the idea that speaking in tongues is learned behavior, and conclude that there is substantial difficulty with this view in light of what we found. Furthermore, we examined the possibility that tongue speaking is involuntary and whether it is to be interpreted as "ecstatic speech", to which we provide an answer in line with previous work, which denies this is the case. We also point to some new research questions that were not addressed in our survey. Finally, we examined ten tongue samples collected ddur5ing our research and conclude that the vowel sequences differ from claims made in the literature.

A Paradigmatic Analysis of Authority in Pentecostalism, 1995

As a starting point, churches generally resolve matters of ethical dilemmas within the framework ... more As a starting point, churches generally resolve matters of ethical dilemmas within the framework of their particular ecclesiastical polity. In an Episcopal system where authority flows from the top downward, this means that the individual decisions of parish priests are dictated by their immediate superiors who spend judicious time interpreting the fine points of canon law. Fundamentally, the system is intended to give maximum security and limited freedom to a parish priest.1