A theological Christian movement centered around the belief that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wikipedia "Holy Spirit"), as described in the Holy Bible as normative in the 1st-century Church, are available to Christians today, and which include among other gifts: "speaking in tongues" (American Heritage Dictionary "gift of tongues"), prophecy, the interpretation of tongues, and miraculous healing. The Charismatic movement began in the 1950's and 1960's within mainline Protestant denominations (see Wikipedia "List of Christian denominations"), but also eventually developed within Roman Catholicism. In the 1970's and 1980's, while many Charismatics left their denominations (or were forced out) and joined formal Charismatic structures and independent congregations, many Charismatics did not. Such non-sectarianism within the Charistmatic movement is one of several key differences between it and Pentecostalism, though both emphasize the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians today. Like evangelicals, Charismatics run the theological gamut from progressive to conservative, but conservatives are generally presumed to be most numerous.
(see TheocracyWatch.org "Charismatics")
usage. The Charismatic movement differs from Pentecostalism. As terms, "Pentecostals" and "Charismatics" are not synonymous.
note. Leaders of the Christian Right sought from very early on (1970's) in their movement to nurture the participation of Charismatics, especially those from officially Charismatic denominations and independent Charismatic congregations.
