Holy Rollers

[Katzpur]

Is this term really nothing more than an insulting nickname for a recognized Christian denomination or is there actually a group that calls itself by this name?

 

[MaddLlama]

It's a defamatory term for fundamentalist Christians who like getting all up in everyone elses business, and stand on street corners harassing people and handing out "jesus saves" flyers.

 

[Smoke]

Is this term really nothing more than an insulting nickname for a recognized Christian denomination or is there actually a group that calls itself by this name?

We always used it to refer to Pentecostals -- which included some of our relatives. As in:

Q: What did you do before you got television?
A: We used to go look in the window at the holy roller church.

It's normally derogatory, though some Pentecostals may apply it to themselves in a joking way, or to "reclaim" it, as some other groups also do with derogatory terms.

 

[FerventGodSeeker]

It's not a defamatory term against all Christians (or at least not the way I've heard it), it's a term used to poke fun at certain Pentecostal Christians who dance around while speaking in tongues and sometimes literally roll down the aisles of their churches.

FerventGodSeeker

 

[zombieharlot]

I always thought Holy Rollers was a professional bowling team composed of Christians.

 

[sojourner]

I thought they were those little plastic cylinders with holes punched in them, that ladies put in their hair before going to the grocery store.

Or really religious bus drivers...

 

[Abram]

I call my self a holy roller, Jesus freak, Bible thumping Christian... I love when others call me it as well. I'm strongly identified to Christ, I do hand out Jesus saves flyers and my favorite line is "Repent for the end is near!" Id rather be over the top instead of not enough. Beside the stronger and more noise I make about it the more people hear my call to safety and love from the creator of the universe. I do it because I love all you more then my own life...

Besides who better to have here on RF then a holy roller!

 

[Circle_One]

I always thought Holy Rollers was a professional bowling team composed of Christians.

*shrug* I always thought it had to do with a gambling Christian

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

wikipedia says= 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 a uncontrolled manner. For this usage, the Oxford English Dictionary cites an 1893 memoir by Charles G. Leland, in which he says "When the Holy Spirit seized them..the Holy Rollers..rolled over and over on the floor."[1] It is generally considered pejorative, but some have reclaimed it as a badge of honor, e.g. William Branham's statement "And what the world calls today holy-roller, that's the way I worship Jesus Christ." [2]

 

[Katzpur]

I call my self a holy roller, Jesus freak, Bible thumping Christian... I love when others call me it as well. I'm strongly identified to Christ, I do hand out Jesus saves flyers and my favorite line is "Repent for the end is near!" Id rather be over the top instead of not enough. Beside the stronger and more noise I make about it the more people hear my call to safety and love from the creator of the universe. I do it because I love all you more then my own life...

As long as you don't show up at LDS General Conference handing out literature telling us we're all bound to burn in Hell, I'm fine with you making all the noise you want. I actually visited a Pentacostal Church in Harlem last Sunday. That's what prompted this question.

 

[Abram]

As long as you don't show up at LDS General Conference handing out literature telling us we're all bound to burn in Hell, I'm fine with you making all the noise you want. I actually visited a Pentacostal Church in Harlem last Sunday. That's what prompted this question.

I want to add here I don't speak in tonges nor fall on the floor. I read the description after my post. I enjoy watching it, the tears, the shaking, the gibberish, its real exciting, but I don't go that far.

BTW: I have and do attend a LDS church once in awhile. I don't make a habit of being rude about my beliefs...

 

[Katzpur]

I want to add here I don't speak in tonges nor fall on the floor. I read the description after my post. I enjoy watching it, the tears, the shaking, the gibberish, its real exciting, but I don't go that far.

BTW: I have and do attend a LDS church once in awhile. I don't make a habit of being rude about my beliefs...

I know you don't. And I appreciate it.

 

[joeboonda]

A Holy Roller is mainly ascribed to the above noted Pentecostal/Charismatics because of the rolling down the isles and such that has gone on in their worship. Non-Christians may also call anyone a holy roller who claims to be a born-again Christian. It is mostly reserved for people whom they may find to be too 'spiritual', whatever form that may take. (i.e. judging them, acting 'holier than thou', always turning everything into a Bible conversation, wearing all the jewelry, t-shirts, bumper-stickers, etc.) Not that there is anything wrong with being open and active in sharing your faith, I just don't like some of the legalistic types that act like they are better than others, or look down on them, etc. because they are not saved. Sometimes your old friends may call you a holy roller when you dont run around and do the same things you used to with them. Anyway, It can be good or bad, depends on the person. I think it would be a good name for a Christian Rock Band, its probably already taken, though.

 

[Booko]

Is this term really nothing more than an insulting nickname for a recognized Christian denomination or is there actually a group that calls itself by this name?

It's nickname used for pentecostals, due to their style of worship which is much more animated than the usual Christian practice.

It is sometimes, but not always, derogatory. I mostly hear it used by those who look down on pentecostals as somehow "uneducated" Christians due to the emotional style of their practice.

 

[joeboonda]

Yes, and for Christians to use the term in a derogatory way is, er, not Christian. Pentecostals are our brothers and sisters in Christ, we agree on the essentials of the faith, perhaps just not on some of the nonessentials. And in our course of being ambadassadors for Christ, non-christians call us holy rollers, then so be it. We must remember to be witnesses, in love, and with gentleness and tact, and patience, prayer, and sensitivity to each individual we might lead to saving faith in Christ.