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The first edition of The Next Christendom has been hailed as a landmark in our understanding of modern Christianity. In this new and substantially ...
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reviews
Jul 27, 2011
Jenkins reveals many interesting aspects of the New Christendom, the Christendom often ignored, neglected or simply dismissed by the "Old" christendom. He might rely a little too much on a clash of the civilisations view of religion and political development, but the conclusions are nonetheless very interesting and I'm sure that he is right that the religious map will look very different and that it will affect the development of the world over all as well. It will be very exciting to
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May 29, 2011
Glenn
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This is not a riveting, fast, page-turning book about how the world will come to an end, but it does describe a fascinating journey about the historical development of Christianity throughout the centuries, both its highs and lows, and how it has shaped modern Christianity. Jenkins provides a meticulous look at the shaping influences on how Christianity spreads, including how increasingly it is returning to its roots in what he calls The Global South. Until recently, the overwhelming majority of
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May 26, 2011
Bill
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Jenkins has given his readers much to consider in The Next Christendom. Starting with statistical evidence that the heart of Christianity no longer lies in the West, but that it lies in the South on the continents of South America and Africa, and in the East in Asia, he paints a picture of current day Christianity that is very non-white, and poor. This revelation alone is enough to cause me to pause, and to begin to reevaluate much of my perspective on worldwide Christianity. Jenkins says, "
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Jan 27, 2011
related source: http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2010/10/21/glo...
One of these fields of argument is being constructed primarily by historians, anthropologists, theologians, and popular Christian writers, and has taken shape around notions such as “world Christianity” and “global Christianity.” Those participating in this discussion hold that while Christianity has always been global in its ambitions and self-conceptions, there is something about its recent growth, particularly in the global More...
One of these fields of argument is being constructed primarily by historians, anthropologists, theologians, and popular Christian writers, and has taken shape around notions such as “world Christianity” and “global Christianity.” Those participating in this discussion hold that while Christianity has always been global in its ambitions and self-conceptions, there is something about its recent growth, particularly in the global More...
Jul 28, 2011
Tim
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“Christianity is never as weak as it appears, nor as strong as it appears” says Philip Jenkins as he ends this important book on global religious trends. Whatever might be the presence of religion in one’s life, the numbers cannot be ignored. Christianity has gone through its largest boom period in history over the last 100 years, and the pace is only quickening. Due to an often patronizing Eurocentric viewpoint, this fact is usually overlooked in the Northern Hemisphere. Most of the new Christi
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Aug 11, 2011
Christopher
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This is a book about Christianity through the eyes of the historian, the one who sees the trends, the ebs and flows, and forecasts how these will go. As such, here is what this book is not: it is not a theological work, separating the wheat from the chaff, defining true religion. But what it is, is a fascinating observation about the direction of Christianity, particularly in regard to its invasion of the global south. The idea of a desperately poor black or latino Pentacostal or Roman Cathol
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Nov 23, 2010
George
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Philip Jenkins is not a futurist, but his book does make predictions about the Christian religion.
His view is that a shift in the "center of gravity" of the Christian Church is happening. What has been a religion dominated by the Global North is now shifting focus to the Global South, mainly Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Statistics, again and again makes for some dry reading, but the historical recap of Christianity is very interesting. We need to remember that More...
His view is that a shift in the "center of gravity" of the Christian Church is happening. What has been a religion dominated by the Global North is now shifting focus to the Global South, mainly Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Statistics, again and again makes for some dry reading, but the historical recap of Christianity is very interesting. We need to remember that More...
May 13, 2011
Sunnyside1204
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History classes in the United States, it seems, tend to have a thematic flaw. They focus on the history of the West at the expense of the rest of the world. Besides learning some information about ancient civilizations like the Hebrews and Egyptians, history teaching generally takes a turn from the Greeks to the Romans to Europe, and finally, the United States. This happens in all types of history classes, including Church History. The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Phili
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Nov 23, 2010
Johnny
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I like reading the work of futurists and speculating alongside them about the coming events. Philip Jenkins is not a futurists, but his book The Next Christendom does make future predictions about the Christian religion.
His view is a shift in the religion from being ruled and dominated by the Global North to the South. Mainly Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Lots of numbers in the book. Recitation of statistics, again, again, and again. Makes for some dry reading.
H More...
His view is a shift in the religion from being ruled and dominated by the Global North to the South. Mainly Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Lots of numbers in the book. Recitation of statistics, again, again, and again. Makes for some dry reading.
H More...
Jul 31, 2011
Jeff
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This was a very enjoyable and informative book chronicling the shift in influence in the church from the north to the southern churches of Africa and South America. What sets this book apart in my mind, besides its readability, was its thorough examination and emphasis on the role of Pentecostalism in the explosion of the church in the third world, a development often ignored in such books. There is some focus on some of the excesses, but on the whole a very balanced examination of the phenome
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Dec 05, 2011
Ian
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A compelling corrective which demonstrates the ways in which modern Western claims (particularly by academics and secularists) about the impending "death" of Christianity are in fact based on ethnocentrism and cultural myopia. Such claims, as Jenkins demonstrates, fail to take into account the explosive growth of Christianity in Africa, Latin America and Asia over the last few decades -- growth which is generally ignored because it is occuring among peoples whom claimants (perhaps subc
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Jul 22, 2008
Caroline
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Jenkins reports on the shift in the Christian "center", from the US and Europe at the beginning of the 1900s, to Africa, Asia and South American by the end of the century. It is a combination of recession in the Global North and growth in the Global South.
There has never been a recession as rapid as in Europe, even under the pressure of Islam after Mohammed. There has never been growth as rapid as in China (country) and Africa (continent). But these changes go unreported More...
There has never been a recession as rapid as in Europe, even under the pressure of Islam after Mohammed. There has never been growth as rapid as in China (country) and Africa (continent). But these changes go unreported More...
Dec 25, 2010
Pamela
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This book is a very boring book, but it has some vital information as far as statistics for population growing areas, so far stressed are the countries in Africa. The author uses the source World Christian Encyclopedia. I think the book I have is a little out dated. It seems the last statistics were taken in 2002. Any way it will make a good reference book with interesting information.
I still will enjoy reading this book.
I still will enjoy reading this book.
Oct 20, 2011
Zachames
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There was was some really good, useful, and encouraging info in this book. However, Jenkins lumps anyone who puts on a cross necklace in with being a Christian. Many of the health and wealth congregations that Jenkins talked about in Africa and Asia probably don't exist by the time I'm writing this review. No substance. On the whole its a recommended read but with a discerning mind.
Feb 23, 2009
Michelle
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This was one of the most encouraging books I've ever read regarding church growth in our time. It really pulled one out of the US-centric mindset and captured visions of true global Christianity much more vividly and truly, I believe. ("...as the waters cover the sea...") Though I read it probably two years ago, it remains a favorite. Mind and soul expanding.
Jan 27, 2011
Jennifer
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I wasn't able to read the entire thing. It was very interesting, but I found Jenkins said the same thing over and over again. The book was very stats-saturated which made it - at times - difficult to follow, but it in total, the book provided very eye-opening observations.
May 28, 2010
Douglas
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Jenkins provides convincing evidence that the center of Christian influence in the world is shifting from the West and North to the East and South. The implications of this and other demographic trends are profoundly important for the Great Commission.
Jan 13, 2012
Christianity Today editors' description: The Penn State professor confronted North American Christians with the shocking truth that they were not the center of the universe.
Aug 04, 2011
An absolutely breathtaking book. This information will make any Western believer finally aware that we are not the center of Christianity again. God is moving like never before in the majority world and it is past time that we realize that.
Sep 05, 2008
Ebookwormy
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Absolutely outstanding. I learned a lot from this book, and it changed my perception of some things I already knew.
The church history, current events and future forecast were each exceptionally well documented and thought through. It was great to have a focused look at the church from the time of Christ onward. Also, the annotated bibliography of this book is priceless, I must have added 20 books to my goodreads to-read as a result of following along in the notes.
Well wo More...
The church history, current events and future forecast were each exceptionally well documented and thought through. It was great to have a focused look at the church from the time of Christ onward. Also, the annotated bibliography of this book is priceless, I must have added 20 books to my goodreads to-read as a result of following along in the notes.
Well wo More...
Jun 23, 2010
The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins (2007)
Jun 14, 2010
Marcelle
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Illuminating read about the global movement of Christianity. I really enjoyed it since there seem to be few sources that offer a global perspective on current events. Jenkins draws conclusions based on current trends, and although you can't really argue with the trends (populations and statistics), I wonder if some of other faiths might get riled up by some of his conclusions. I read the first edition which was written prior Sept 11th. I wonder how the second edition differs.
