Neo-Pentecostalism in Spain: A Growing Phenomenon with Neo-Liberal Religious Characteristics

In recent months, voices in Madrid have raised concerns about the rapid growth of Pentecostal evangelism in Spain. Emilio Delgado, a local observer, notes that a Pentecostal church is established in Madrid roughly every four days. He characterizes these groups as particularly aggressive and ultra-conservative in their social views and economically ultra-liberal, linking them to the MAGA movement and Donald Trump’s political ideology.

This phenomenon, however, warrants a measured analysis rather than becoming a media stereotype. The perception of Spanish Protestantism is often shaped by an American context, which can lead to a misinterpretation of the entire landscape. Spain’s evangelical community is highly diverse, encompassing Baptist, Methodist, Reformed, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and other traditions, alongside classical Pentecostal and independent congregations. Reducing this rich diversity to neo-Pentecostalism is as misleading as equating all Catholicism with its most extreme or mainstream expressions.

Neo-Pentecostalism represents a significant transformation within contemporary religious life. It is characterized by ministries, charismatic leaders, and independent churches that emphasize personal leadership, the spectacle of religious experience, and political engagement. Elements such as miracle healings, promises of immediate prosperity, and intense personal branding are central to this religious model, which aligns closely with market logic.

In the United States, Latin America, and Africa, neo-Pentecostalism has gained substantial influence. Much of its expansion is driven by international strategies from sectors of the American Christian right, which use religious similarities to form cultural and political alliances on issues such as abortion, family, and LGBT rights. Christianity is leveraged not only as a spiritual phenomenon but also as a tool for ideological uniformity. In this context, neo-Pentecostalism can serve as a spiritual justification for economic success and inequality, acting as a new opium of the people that diminishes the faith’s critical potential.

One of the most prominent expressions of neo-Pentecostalism is the so-called Gospel of Prosperity. Unlike the classical reform tradition, which viewed work, effort, and saving as moral duties tied to personal responsibility—an ethics studied by Max Weber—this current asserts that wealth and health are rights guaranteed by faith. These are seen as indicators of divine predestination.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)