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The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity
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Average Rating:  out of 31 Reviews
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Price: $14.95
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Sale: $7.69
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Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780195183078
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: Philip Jenkins
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Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
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Edition: Revised and Updated
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Dewey Decimal Number: 270.830112
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Publication Date: 2007-03-19
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Reading Level: 336
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Description: The first edition of The Next Christendom has been hailed as a landmark in our understanding of modern Christianity. In this new and substantially expanded second edition, Jenkins continues to illuminate the remarkable expanion of Christianity in the global South--in Africa, Asia, and Latin America--as well as the clash betwen Islam and Christianity since September 11. Among the major topics covered are the growing schism between Northern and Southern churches over issues of gender and sexuality, immigrant and ethnic churches in North America, and a special section on the split within the Anglican Communion. The first in a three-book trilogy on the changes besetting modern Christianity, this award-winning book will be welcomed by all of those who have come to recognize Philip Jenkins as one of our leading commentators on religion and world affairs.
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Magisterial Book |
Date: 2008-07-06 |
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Details: Whether you like his thesis or no, Philip Jenkins as accurately depicted the future of a truly global Christendom, one that is anchored in, and in some respects orchestrated by, citizens of the Global South.
The recent GAFCON conference represents something far more significant than the largely ignorant major media suggest. Among Colonialist-dominated Anglicans, the conference serves as the first major step toward asserting their natural role as Communion leaders. The process of liberation comes as no great surprise to those familiar with Jenkins' monograph.
While forthcoming books may improve upon this one, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity remains a magisterial work, one that should occupy a prominent place in the library of every serious scholar of Christian history. |
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Review Summary: dangerous and useful at one and the same time |
Date: 2008-06-18 |
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Details: This text was one of my texts at Seminary (I'm studying to be a pastor) and I was at first in love with this book. It is a scathing indictment of the Western (especially United States-ian) Church. It is an encouragement to see how the Christian faith is not politically bound to a nation-state, but rather much more universal in its applicability. In that sense this book in invaluable. However, the dangerous part of the book comes in the very definition that Jenkins uses for Christianity. What he defines as "Christianity" is not Christianity at all, but rather a philosophy which incorporates some Christian values. In an era in which Universalism is rampant, this definition is dangerous to the orthodox Christian faith. Be that as it may, it is a useful book if thought about critically. |
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Review Summary: observant but not complete |
Date: 2008-06-15 |
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Details: Jenkins points out demographic and sociological trends in Christianity that, sadly enough, do need to be brought to light for many North American Christians. He provides good back up and a thorough layout. What is most lacking in his book, from a Christian perspective, is that he posits the issue as one where Truth follows consensus as opposed to consensus following Truth. The thing that Christianity must be careful of, that Jenkins does little to warn against, is to believe that strength in numbers makes things right or true, leading too often to force. Instead, we ought to be sensitive to where consensus lies and give it much credence, without making the Truth of God something subject to democratic vote. |
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Review Summary: Book Review: The Next Christendom by Philip Jenkins |
Date: 2008-05-17 |
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Details: I remember watching the news one night and hearing a Saudi Muslim complaining of the "American Christian Zionists" and their out-and-out lack of respect for Islam. This kind of thing will likely continue to wedge a rift between Western Christian ideology and missions and the non-Western world. Jenkins' projections do look as if they are better than conjecture here. Not only will the current Western and Islamic conflict have a profound impact on the global public square, it will also affect church planting and evangelism in Africa and Central Asia, especially in the 10/40 window.
Jenkins' book does provide helpful information. But, I do have a few issues with the book. For example, in a smaller part of the book, Jenkins describes the coming of the new global Christendom with a categorical applied definition of Christianity that is too broad. I think this should be addressed in order to make an appropriate assessment of the value of Jenkins' book. What is his applied definition of a Christian, according to the book? "A Christian is someone who describes himself or herself as a Christian" (p. 88). Later, he clarifies that "the term 'Christian' could be used only for someone who had experienced a personal born-again conversion" (100). To be fair, Jenkins' does explain why he chooses to use such a broad definition. He makes note of the evangelical tendency to unfairly deflate Christian numbers or ignore whether Catholics are to be included. Then he also admits that some groups make larger-than-life claims. So what definition can be better?
But such a definition is problematic. Overly syncretistic churches in Africa with a skewed view of the gospel of Jesus Christ and an unhealthy mix of traditional animism are not Christian churches. Jenkins' definition is broad enough to include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Should those numbers be counted as Christian just because they consider themselves to be followers of Jesus? Though it is not useful to be excessively narrow, it does not help missionaries to accept that a people group is evangelized according to such a broad definition of a Christian. Be that as it may, as the newer Southern and Eastern churches continue to grow, they will begin to look less and less like a Western church and more like an indigenous church. The question is the book leaves is: what will they look like? Will they really be Christian? And, how will we know?
What should we think about Jenkins' book? For one, just as there is a growing secularization in Europe, North America is also a part of that trend (cf. pp. 166-67). What will believers in North America do about it? Join it? Or, reaffirm their commitment to the Great Commission and preach the gospel at home also? In summary, Jenkins' book can be both helpful and average at best. For that, I recommend The Next Christendom with only some reservation for missions or general reading. |
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Review Summary: eye opening |
Date: 2008-01-28 |
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Details: An important book for a perspective-adjusting view of worldwide Christianity. We Westerners (read, mostly Americans) tend to think our world is THE world and we represent the view and experience of the rest of the world -- or at least, that our view and experience is the correct and most progressive of the rest of the world. Fact is, the rest of the world has a much different perspective. Into that rest-of-the-world reality, Christianity is growing at a staggering pace. Reading this book made me grateful that the corruption and apostasy of the molding Western Church is not the world's norm. Thanks be to God, His people are strong, vibrant, healthy and growing. We have all heard about the fact that the Church is now more brown, black, and yellow than white, but the statistics and facts presented and the outlook for the non-western Church is startling and exciting. This should be required reading for all clergy and those interested in the direction the Church is taking in our modern world. |
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