Description
Book SynopsisThis accessible textbook describes Christianity, the world''s largest religion, in all of its historical and contemporary diversity. No other publication includes so much information or presents it so clearly and winsomely. This volume employs a religious studies approach that is neutral in tone yet accommodates the lived experiences of Christians in different traditions and from all regions of the globe. The World''s Christians is a perfect textbook for either public university classrooms or liberal arts campuses.
Divided into three parts, the text first describes the world''s four largest Christian traditions (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal) which together account for roughly 98 percent of all Christians worldwide. A second section focuses on Christian history, explaining the movement''s developing ideas and practices and examining Christianity''s engagement with people and cultures around the world. The third and longest portion of the
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations xi
Voices of World Christianity xix
Introduction to World Christianity xxi
Part I Who They Are: F our Christian Mega-Traditions
Introduction 1
What Christians Hold in Common 1
Christian Traditions 4
1 The Orthodox Tradition 7
Spirituality 7
Salvation 11
Structure 13
Story 14
Notes 19
Suggestions for Further Reading 19
2 The Catholic Tradition 21
Spirituality 21
Salvation 25
Structure 28
Story 30
Notes 33
Suggestions for Further Reading 34
3 The Protestant Tradition 35
Spirituality 36
Salvation 38
Structure 41
Story 44
Note 47
Suggestions for Further Reading 47
4 The Pentecostal Tradition 49
Spirituality 50
Salvation 54
Structure 56
Story 59
Notes 60
Suggestions for Further Reading 60
Part II How They Got There: A Glob al History of Christianity
Introduction 63
Christianity’s Pre-History and Relationship with Judaism 63
Christian History and Globalizations 65
5 The Ancient Tradition 67
Convictions 68
Encounters 77
Notes 91
Suggestions for Further Reading 91
6 The Great Division and the Age of the East 93
Convictions 95
Encounters 102
Notes 117
Suggestions for Further Reading 118
7 The Rise of the West and Decline of the East 119
Convictions 120
Encounters 131
Notes 143
Suggestions for Further Reading 143
8 Christianity in a Global Era 145
Convictions 146
Encounters 156
Notes 172
Suggestions for Further Reading 172
Part III Where They Are: Chris tianity in Nine World Regions
Introduction 175
Immigrants, Missionaries, and the Changing Shape of World Christianity 175
Mapping World Christianity 177
9 The Middle East and North Africa 181
Description of the Region 183
Christian Profile 186
Faith and Ethnicity 188
Weariness and Decline 189
Spirituality and Survival in Egypt 191
Turkey and Armenia 193
Israel and the Palestinian Territories 195
Hope? 197
Notes 198
Suggestions for Further Reading 199
10 Eastern Europe 201
Description of the Region 201
Current Christian Profile 202
The Crucible of Communism 205
The Balkans: Blending Ethnicity and Faith 206
Catholic Central Europe 209
Orthodoxy in the Russian Sphere of Influence 214
Notes 221
Suggestions for Further Reading 221
11 Central and South Asia 223
Description of the Region 224
Christian Profile 225
Overview of Christianity in South Asia 228
Religion and Nation-Building in India 231
The Varieties of Indian Christianity 234
Christianity and Dalits 239
Jesus, Christianity, and Indian Culture 240
Notes 241
Suggestions for Further Reading 242
12 Western Europe 243
Description of the Region 244
Christian Profile 246
Catholic Western Europe 249
Scandinavia’s Protestant Turf 255
Religiously Mixed Western Europe 256
Notes 263
Suggestions for Further Reading 263
13 Sub-Saharan Africa 265
Description of the Region 266
Christian Profile 268
The Crucible of Colonization 270
The Postcolonial Era 272
Challenges 274
Nigeria: Christianity, Islam, and the Evangelization of the World 277
Church and Politics in South Africa 279
Ethiopia: The Last Christian Empire 281
Notes 283
Suggestions for Further Reading 284
14 East Asia 285
Description of the Region 286
Christian Profile 290
Asian Spirituality and Christian Faith 290
Faith and Politics in the Philippines 292
Christianity’s Changing Public Image in South Korea 295
Indonesia: Politics and Religion in Changing Times 297
The Complexities of Christianity in China 299
Notes 304
Suggestions for Further Reading 305
15 Latin America 307
Description of Region 307
Christian Profile 309
A Complex History of Church, State, and Economy 310
Popular Catholicism: The Importance of Mary 313
Non-Catholic (Evangélico) Christianity 317
Pentecostalism and Catholic Renewal 318
The New Religious Economy in Brazil 319
Holding the Line in Mexico 321
The Caribbean Difference 324
Notes 326
Suggestions for Further Reading 326
16 North America 327
Description of the Region 328
Christian Profile 329
Denominationalism: The Protestant Diversity that Freedom Produced 331
Simplifying Protestant Diversity: Mainline and Evangelical 333
Historically Black Churches 337
The Fuzzy Boundaries of Pentecostalism 340
Catholicism in Transition 342
Orthodoxy in the United States 344
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 346
Notes 347
Suggestions for Further Reading 347
17 Oceania 349
Description of the Region 350
Christian Profile 352
A Complex Conversion History 352
Mapping the Pacific: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia 354
Religion, Ethnicity, and Politics in Fiji 357
Christianity and the Relaxed Spirituality of Australia 359
Notes 365
Suggestions for Further Reading 366
Appendix: Counting Christians 367
Index 369
