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Universidad Católica Abierta

Estudio de investigación oficial

Centro de Investigación y Estudios del COU

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by:

Dr. Hans Sora Pazer

COU Member ID:

995121

12 de agosto de 2025

Between Taboo and Transparency: Church Culture and Dealing with Doubts of Faith in the Pentecostal-Charismatic Context

Abstract:

This original qualitative study, Between Taboo and Transparency: Church Culture and Dealing with Doubts of Faith in the Pentecostal-Charismatic Context by Sora Pazer (IU International University of Applied Science), investigates how doubts of faith are experienced and processed within Pentecostal-charismatic congregations. Drawing on ten narrative interviews from three German churches, the research reconstructs the triggers, dynamics, and transformative outcomes of crises of faith. Results show that doubt often arises from biographical ruptures, theological dissonances, and unmet congregational expectations, leading to spiritual dryness and psychological stress. The key factor shaping outcomes is church culture: tabooing doubt intensifies destructiveness, while transparent dialogue fosters resilience and deeper faith. This study highlights the importance of creating pastoral and communal spaces where honesty and ambivalence are accepted. The findings provide valuable insights for theology, psychology, and pastoral practice, offering a model of “faithfulness in non-understanding” as a constructive response to doubt.

Este estudio de investigación refleja el trabajo académico y las conclusiones del autor, las cuales son de su exclusiva responsabilidad. El Centro de Investigación y Estudios de la Universidad Católica Abierta no avala necesariamente los hallazgos, interpretaciones ni puntos de vista expresados. Se anima a los investigadores a publicar sus estudios como parte de nuestra misión de promover el conocimiento, fomentar el intercambio académico y apoyar el desarrollo intelectual.

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