Description
Book SynopsisThis interdisciplinary introduction offers students a truly global overview of the worldwide spread and impact of Christianity. It is enriched throughout by detailed historic and ethnographic material, showing how broad themes within Christianity have been adopted and adapted by Christian denominations within each major region of the world.
Trade Review"This volume acknowledges the polycentric nature of Christian ecumene. It combines historical breadth and sociological depth. ...With its rich variety of research methods, writing styles, and case studies, this volume is a welcome addition to the field of world Christianity and could be a valuable reference book both to experts and lay readers." (Mission Studies, 2013)
“Any scholar wanting background information on Christianity in any region of the world will find this book very helpful.” (Ecclesiastical History, 1 July 2013)
“I do think, however, there is some merit in understanding how the world views Christianity at large. Because of that, I do recommend this resource with the qualification that the reader realize that this book is painting with extremely large strokes the Christian faith.” (Christian Book Notes, 1 July 2013)
“It should prove to be a valuable resource for both classroom and specialist use. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty.” (Choice, 1 October 2012)
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations vii
List of Contributors viii
Foreword ix
Robert W. Hefner
Acknowledgments xi
Map 0.1 Percentage majority religion by province, 2010 xii
Introduction 1
Charles E. Farhadian
Part I: Africa 5
1 Middle Eastern and North African Christianity: Persisting in the Lands of Islam 7
Heather J. Sharkey
2 Christian Belongings in East Africa: Flocking to the Churches 21
Ben Knighton
3 West African Christianity: Padres, Pastors, Prophets, and Pentecostals 36
Ogbu Kalu
4 Christianity in Southern Africa: The Aesthetics of Well-Being 51
Frederick Klaits
Part II: Europe 63
5 Christianity in Western Europe: Mission Fields, Old and New? 65
Simon Coleman
6 Christianity in Eastern Europe: A Story of Pain, Glory, Persecution, and Freedom 77
Peter Kuzmic
Part III: Asia 91
7 Christianity in South Asia: Negotiating Religious Pluralism 93
Arun Jones
8 Christianity in Southeast Asia: Similarity and Difference in a Culturally Diverse Region 108
Barbara Watson Andaya
9 Christianity in East Asia: Evangelicalism and the March First Independence Movement in Korea 122
Timothy S. Lee
Part IV: Americas 137
10 Christianity in North America: Changes and Challenges in a Land of Promise 139
Kevin J. Christiano
11 Central America and the Caribbean: Christianity on the Periphery 154
Virginia Garrard-Burnett
12 Christianity in Latin America: Changing Churches in a Changing Continent 171
Samuel Escobar
13 Brazilian Charisma: Pentecostalized Christianity in Latin America’s Largest Nation 186
R. Andrew Chesnut
Part V: The Pacific 201
14 Christianity in Australia and New Zealand: Faith and Politics in Secular Soil 203
Marion Maddox
15 Christianity in Polynesia: Transforming the Islands 218
Ian Breward
16 Christianity in Micronesia: The Interplay between Church and Culture 230
Francis X. Hezel
17 Christianity in Melanesia: Transforming the Warrior Spirit 244
Garry W. Trompf
Conclusion: World Christianity – Its History, Spread, and Social Influence 259
Robert D. Woodberry
Index 272
