World's Christians (eBook)

DOUGLAS JACOBSEN is Distinguished Professor of Church History and Theology at Messiah College. He is author of numerous books, including Thinking in the Spirit: Theologies of the Early Pentecostal Moement (2003), which received the Pneuma Award from the Society for Pentecostal Studies, and The American University in a Postsecular Age (with Rhonda Hustedt Jacobsen, 2008), winner of the 2009 Lilly Fellows Book Award.

List of Illustrations.

Preface.

Introduction.

Part I: Who They Are.

Introduction.

1 The Orthodox Tradition.

2 The Catholic Tradition.

3 The Protestant Tradition.

4 The Pentecostal/Charismatic Tradition.

Part II: Where They Are.

Introduction.

5 The Middle East and North Africa: Barely Surviving.

6 Eastern Europe: Nationalism and New Mission.

7 Central and South Asia: Confidence and Complexity.

8 Western Europe: Thin, but Alive.

9 Sub-Saharan Africa: Hope and Despair.

10 East Asia: Piety and Politics.

11 Latin America: After Monopoly.

12 North America: Faith in a Free Market.

13 Oceania: Experiments in Identity.

Part III: How They Got There.

Introduction.

14 The Ancient Tradition: Beginnings to 500.

15 The Great Division and the Age of the East: 500 to 1000.

16 The Rise of the West and Decline of the East: 1000 to1500.

17 Christianity in a Global Era: 1500 to the Present.

Index.

"The result is a most useful comprehensive survey of Christianity, one that is especially appropriate for an introductory college course or a church study program. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-level undergraduates, practitioners, and general readers." (Choice, 1 November 2011)
"This book is a guide to global Christianity in all itsorganizational and geographical diversity. It is a friendlyencounter with Christians around the world, in Europe and NorthAmerica and increasingly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Writtenin an accessible but authoritative style, it will serve as areliable sourcebook and a valuable introduction to the livingvariety of today's multicultural Christian faith."
--Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California-SantaBarbara, editor of Global Religions: An Introduction

"I am very impressed with this book. It presents a massiveamount of material in an accessible fashion. I know of no otherbook like it available today."
--Anne T. Thayer, Professor of Church History,Lancaster Theological Seminary

"An outstanding work of scholarship. This balanced andcomprehensive overview of global Christian realities is the singlebest introduction to world Christianity that I have everread."
--Dale T. Irvin, President and Professor of WorldChristianity, New York Theological Seminary

"At a time when readers are looking for a good basic book onChristianity as a world religion, Douglas Jacobsen offers somethingeven better: a global survey of who and where the Christians are,and a brief history as well. Students and casual readers alike willcome away with their questions answered, and those who want tolearn more will find many good suggestions about what to read next.This is a valuable book, well worth getting--and keeping."
--Joel Carpenter, Nagel Institute for the Study ofWorld Christianity, Calvin College

"Douglas Jacobsen has written a remarkably thoughtful,insightful, lively and near-comprehensive account of the sprawling,vivid, internally plural and wildly complex phenomenon of worldChristianity. For students of politics, culture, development andconflict--for anyone interested in the evolution and prospectsof the hundreds of Christian - influenced or inflected societiesaround the world--The World's Christians isindispensable."
--R. Scott Appleby, Professor of History, University ofNotre Dame