The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity
Philip Jenkins
Abstract
We are living through one of the greatest transformations in the history of religion worldwide. Over the last century, Christianity has enjoyed explosive growth in the global South–in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Within a few decades, Christianity will be overwhelmingly a non-European, non-white religion. Philip Jenkins argues that what we are seeing is no less than the creation of a new Christendom, which, for better or worse, will play a major role in world affairs. This book offers the first in-depth examination of the globalization of Christianity and discusses the implications for Chr ... More
We are living through one of the greatest transformations in the history of religion worldwide. Over the last century, Christianity has enjoyed explosive growth in the global South–in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Within a few decades, Christianity will be overwhelmingly a non-European, non-white religion. Philip Jenkins argues that what we are seeing is no less than the creation of a new Christendom, which, for better or worse, will play a major role in world affairs. This book offers the first in-depth examination of the globalization of Christianity and discusses the implications for Christian worship, liturgy, culture, and political life. In addition, the denominations that are triumphing all over the global south are strongly traditional and even reactionary by the standards of economically advanced nations, and their message tends to be charismatic, visionary, and apocalyptic. This newly militant Christianity may give rise to renewed religious rivalry, especially since Islam is expanding in the same areas as Christianity. The resulting confrontations have already given rise to deadly conflicts in places such as Nigeria, Malaysia, and Indonesia. An unprecedented and potentially dangerous global change is underway. This book is an important first step toward understanding its challenges and its threats.
Keywords:
Africa,
apocalyptic Christianity,
Asia,
charismatic Christianity,
Christian culture,
Christian liturgy,
Christian worship,
Christianity,
confrontation,
global Christianity,
globalization,
Islam,
Latin America,
militant Christianity,
political life,
reactionary Christianity,
religious rivalry,
traditional Christianity,
visionary Christianity
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2002 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780195146165 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: November 2003 |
DOI:10.1093/0195146166.001.0001 |
