Written by an award-winning author, this well-organized andcomprehensive introduction to global Christianity illuminates themany ways the world's Christians live their faith today. * Covers the entire globe: Africa, Asia, and Latin America aswell as Europe, North America, and the Pacific * Provides impartial, in-depth descriptions of the world's fourmajor Christian traditions: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, andPentecostal/Charismatic * Utilizes the best available sources to produce an up-to-dateprofile of demographic trends in the Christian population * Blends history, sociology, anthropology, and theology to createa rich, multi-layered analysis of the world Christianmovement * Features clear maps and 4-color illustrations throughout thevolume

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.

Klappentext

"An outstanding work of scholarship. This balanced and comprehensive overview of global Christian realities is the single best introduction to world Christianity that I have ever read."
Dale T. Irvin, New York Theological Seminary

"I am very impressed with this book. It presents a massive amount of material in an accessible fashion. I know of no other book like it available today."
Anne T. ayer, Lancaster Theological Seminary

"At a time when readers are looking for a good basic book on Christianity as a world religion, Douglas Jacobsen o ers something even better: a global survey of who and where the Christians are, and a brief history as well. Students and casual readers alike will come away with their questions answered, and those who want to learn more will find many good suggestions about what to read next. This is a valuable book, well worth getting – and keeping."
Joel Carpenter, Calin 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 world Christianity. For students of politics, culture, development, and con ict – for anyone interested in the evolution and prospects of the hundreds of Christian-influenced or -inflected societies around the world – The World's Christians is indispensable."
R. Scott Appleby, University of Notre Dame

Christianity is the world's largest religion, with one third of the world's population defi ning themselves as Christians, and with a truly global presence. In a clear and lively style, Jacobsen describes how Christianity has developed and spread around the world and how Christians in many different cultures live their faith today. The book off ers a balanced and engaging account of global Christianity, past and present, with captivating accounts of the world's four major Christian traditions: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal. Th e geographical territory covered by the book is uniquely comprehensive, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as Europe, North America, and the Pacifi c. Th e book contains fascinating demographic insights about global Christianity.

Zusammenfassung
Written by an award-winning author, this well-organized and comprehensive introduction to global Christianity illuminates the many ways the world's Christians live their faith today.

• Covers the entire globe: Africa, Asia, and Latin America as well as Europe, North America, and the Pacific
• Provides impartial, in-depth descriptions of the world's four major Christian traditions: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal/Charismatic
• Utilizes the best available sources to produce an up-to-date profile of demographic trends in the Christian population
• Blends history, sociology, anthropology, and theology to create a rich, multi-layered analysis of the world Christian movement
• Features clear maps and 4-color illustrations throughout the volume

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 to 1500.

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

Index.