Holy Roller
Encyclopedia
Holy Roller is a term in American English
used to describe Pentecostal
Christian
churchgoers. The term is commonly used derisively, as if to describe people literally rolling on the floor or speaking in tongues
in an uncontrolled manner.
It is generally considered pejorative, but some have reclaimed it as a badge of honor, William Branham
wrote: "And what the world calls today holy-roller, that's the way I worship Jesus
Christ
." Gospel singer Andrae Crouch
stated, "They call us holy rollers, and what they say is true. But if they knew what we were rollin' about, they'd be rollin' too."
traces the word to 1841. The Oxford English Dictionary
cites an 1893 memoir by Charles Godfrey Leland
, in which he says "When the Holy Spirit
seized them ... the Holy Rollers ... rolled over and over on the floor."
Similar disparaging terms directed at outspoken Christians but later embraced by them include Jesus freak
s or, from former centuries, Shakers
and Quakers.
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
used to describe Pentecostal
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
churchgoers. The term is commonly used derisively, as if to describe people literally rolling on the floor or speaking in tongues
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
in an uncontrolled manner.
It is generally considered pejorative, but some have reclaimed it as a badge of honor, William Branham
William M. Branham
William Marrion Branham was a Christian minister, usually credited with founding the post World War II faith healing movement...
wrote: "And what the world calls today holy-roller, that's the way I worship Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
." Gospel singer Andrae Crouch
Andrae Crouch
Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....
stated, "They call us holy rollers, and what they say is true. But if they knew what we were rollin' about, they'd be rollin' too."
History
Merriam-WebsterMerriam-Webster
Merriam–Webster, which was originally the G. & C. Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, is an American company that publishes reference books, especially dictionaries that are descendants of Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language .Merriam-Webster Inc. has been a...
traces the word to 1841. The Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
cites an 1893 memoir by Charles Godfrey Leland
Charles Godfrey Leland
Charles Godfrey Leland was an American humorist and folklorist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was educated at Princeton University and in Europe....
, in which he says "When the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
seized them ... the Holy Rollers ... rolled over and over on the floor."
Similar disparaging terms directed at outspoken Christians but later embraced by them include Jesus freak
Jesus freak
Jesus freak is a term arising from the late 1960s and early 1970s counterculture and is incorrectly used as a pejorative for those involved in the Jesus movement...
s or, from former centuries, Shakers
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
and Quakers.
Usage
- Gifford PinchotGifford PinchotGifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...
in 1919: "Apparently no meeting for any purpose is to be tolerated except the Holy Roller meetings themselves. These theoretically and in fact ... The Holy Roller church in this community, as elsewhere, in its total influence promotes immorality. ..." - The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
on May 2, 1923: "Bound Brook Mob Raids KlanKu Klux KlanKu Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
Meeting: Thousand Hostile Citizens Surround Church and Lock In 100 Holy Rollers. ... Until the arrival of eight State troopers to reinforce the local police here at 1 o'clock this morning about one hundred members of the Holy Rollers were ..." - TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
on March 4, 1929: "In the village of New Hampshire, OhioNew Hampshire, OhioNew Hampshire is a census-designated place located in central Goshen Township, Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The community is served by the Waynesfield-Goshen Local School District.Located between Wapakoneta and Lakeview at the intersection of U.S...
, the Rev. Ray Dotson, 'Holy Roller' Methodist, so wailed and shrieked, so frothed and grovelled, that he got Fred Conrad, a 200-lb. traction worker, all worked up." - TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
on October 12, 1936: "When Jesus Christ first appeared to His assembled disciples after His resurrection, He told them that believers 'shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents' (Mark: 16:17, 18). To many a U. S. religionist of the Pentecostal or "Holy Roller" variety, the 'gift of tongues' has long been vivid reality."
See also
- Bible thumperBible thumperBible thumper is a pejorative term used to describe someone perceived as aggressively pushing their Christian beliefs upon those who do not share them. Its target domain is broad and can often extend to anyone engaged in a public show of religion, fundamentalist or not...
- EvangelicalismEvangelicalismEvangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
- Fundamentalist ChristianityFundamentalist ChristianityChristian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
- Happy-clappyHappy-clappyHappy-clappy is a derogatory term originating in the United Kingdom, referring to a style of Christian worship particularly evident in charismatic churches and epitomised by the Toronto Blessing, which became extensive in the United Kingdom in the 1980s...