Atlas of Pentecostalism is a dynamic online database, which visually maps the growth of global Pentecostalism as a diverse and networked religion. The database uses global crowdsourcing, big data, cinematography, interviews and academic collaborations to provide an independent perspective on Pentecostalism as it evolves. The database expands with time and can also be ordered as an eBook or print-on-demand book, which freezes the dynamic data at that moment.
Each day, a new version of the atlas is computed by a computer program and uploaded to the website. The book contains a frozen version of the database, including all the maps, transcripts of the interviews and the entire visual database. This unique, real-time and growing book is an expanding record of the fastest growing religion in the world.
While the book provides a global view of Pentecostalism, the film Great Expectations zooms in to one church in Lagos, Nigeria. Rather then telling a story, the split screen documentary allows you to experience the emotional appeal and exuberant nature of Pentecostal worship. The film, which has no beginning and no end loops continuously, and takes you to a new place each time you load the page.
Each scene in the film has been tagged with keywords. Keywords allow for matches between a scene and specific items in the database; images, maps or parts of an interview that relate to that scene.
These links allow you to explore the database and move back and forth between the film and other parts of the website. As the database continues to grow the relations between the film, and the database will change from day to day.
The same principle is applied to the interviews. allowing for links between the interviews and other items in the database and between the interviews themselves.
While the database grows, relations between the various items in the database will continue to change, the book will grow and this website will give new perspectives on the fastest growing religion in world.