The Kingdom of God in Africa: A Short History of African Christianity

by Mark Shaw

This survey of Africa's Christian centuries is organized around Augustine's vision of the City of God and H. Richard Niebuhr's conception of the kingdom of God in history. African Christianity, writes the author, has blended the sovereign rule of God, the redemptive reign of Christ, and the social emphases of the kingdom of justice.

Genres: Africa, History, Theology, Church History

328 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. ^6

Mark Shaw is professor of historical studies and director of the Centre for World Christianity at Africa International University. He studied World Christianity at the University of Edinburgh, UK, (MTh), and church history at Westminster Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania, USA, (ThD).

Also publishes as Mark R. Shaw.

Reviews

[Brian Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shaw provides a good short history of Christianity in Africa from a generally evangelical perspective. He is strongest when simply relating historical events. He is weakest when providing analysis. He is not theologically discriminating enough about the orthodoxy of various forms of Christianity. Nonetheless, this is a recommended read for anyone who wants a basic overview of African Christianity from the first century through the late 1990s.

[Dionne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the history of Africa and missions in Africa! I loved it!

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a good (but brief!) history of Christianity in Africa. Shaw's work is particularly incisive on the influence of and responses to colonialism in Africa. The only real flaws come because this is a "short history." There is always room for more. I would love to see a revision of this text for the 21st century.