[REVIEW] Problems with The End of Power (Already)

On pages 8-9 of The End of Power by Moises Naim, he writes "Similarly the long-entrenched power of the major organized religions is decaying at a remarkable pace. For instance, Pentecostal churches are advancing in countries in countries that were once strongholds of the Vatican and mainline Protestant churches. In Brazil, Pentecostals and Charismatics made up only 5 percent of the population in 1960- compared to 49 percent in 2006. (They comprise 11 percent in South Korea, 23 percent in the United States, 26 percent in Nigeria, 30 percent in Chile, 56 percent in Kenya, and 60 percent in Guatemala.)"

There is no citation given for these assertions. There is no footnote explaining where these numbers come from. However, the numbers given by Moises Naim in the text are identical to the numbers found in a Pew Research Center study entitled 'Spirit and Power- A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals'. Of the 10 countries in that report, Moises Naim lists 9. I am going to be contacting the publisher shortly to determine if they can shed any light on this issue. It is a pretty grievous error if they had no knowledge of this study being used and not being cited.

However, it is a troubling sign for this book regardless of whether the citation was merely overlooked. Using the study that he did and framing it in the way he did above is intentionally misleading. I can't determine if the "5 percent of the population in 1960" refers only to Pentecostals or if it derives from the Brazilian census because, as said, there are no citations and such a number does not appear in the Pew Research Center study above. What is likely that it did not include "Charismatics", as the identification of non-Pentecostal Christians as Charismatics would post-date any 1960 report. (Source)

If he had used only the Pentecostal numbers, he would have stated that 15% of the Brazilian population is Pentecostal, which would still support his thesis, just not as strongly. As the Pew Research Center Study states "most charismatics are members of mainstream Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox denominations." That is in direct contradiction to the way he introduces this data- as a sign that the Catholic Church and the mainstream Protestant churches are failing. If they are adopting Charismatic practice and doing well with it, that is clearly not the case. Using their share of the population as an argument to the contrary is dishonest and misleading to the reader.

I will continue to read The End of Power, but with a much more critical eye. I will post any updates or clarifications from the publisher as I receive them.