

Author:
Dr. Hans Sora Pazer
Member ID:
995121

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

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DOI:
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Publication date:
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10.5281/zenodo.18048842
Catholic Open University
August 12, 2025
v1
© 2025 Dr. Hans Sora Pazer
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Between Taboo and Transparency: Church Culture and Dealing with Doubts of Faith in the Pentecostal-Charismatic Context
Dr. Full Name
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.
Citation format: APA
Pazer, H. S. (2025). Between Taboo and Transparency: Church Culture and Dealing with Doubts of Faith in the Pentecostal-Charismatic Context (1.0). Catholic Open University. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18048842
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