Globalizing Theology: Belief and Practice in an Era of World Christianity

by Craig Ott (Editor), Harold Netland (Series_editor)

One of the most powerful forces in the twenty-first century is the increasing phenomenon of globalization. In nearly every realm of human activity, traditional boundaries are disappearing and people worldwide are more interconnected than ever. Christianity has also become more aware of global realities and the important role of the church in non-Western countries. Church leaders must grapple with the implications for theology and ministry in an ever-shrinking world.

Globalizing Theology is a groundbreaking book that addresses these issues of vital importance to the church. It contains articles from leading scholars, including Tite Tiénou, Kevin Vanhoozer, Charles Van Engen, M. Daniel Carroll R., Andrew Walls, Vinoth Ramachandra, and Paul Hiebert. Topics covered include the challenges that globalization brings to theology, how we can incorporate global perspectives into our thinking, and the effect a more global theology has on a variety of important issues.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Christian

382 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever you have a book with each chapter a contribution of a different author it is hard to give an overall summary of the book. Each author weighs in with a particular expertise. The theme that holds it all together is the late Paul Hiebert's emphasis on indigenous churches being self-theologizing--developing a biblical theology within the terms of the indigenous culture. The book is an outstanding resource for missiologists and particularly timely as the balance of Christianity moves from the West to the South. For someone who is interested in developing theology, especially for promoting it in the "other," the book is very helpful. And it also shows the need for people who can serve as culture brokers among different cultures.

[Caroline Abbott · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really struggled through this book. Each chapter is written by a different theologian. There was so much that was repetitive it drove me crazy. I feel I could summarize the entire book in one paragraph. Basically, they make the point that the majority of the evangelical Christian church is now found in the south and east of the world, i.e. South America, Africa, and Asia. There are more Christians there than in Europe and North America. However, the theology books are for the most part written in English, by Europeans and Americans. If we want our theology to be global, we need to meet with, respect, and incorporate the theology coming from the East and South of the world. They will have a different perspective because they live in a different culture. In order to understand God fully, we need to hear from these pastors and theologians and incorporate their ideas into a global theology.

[Amy Coyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a heady book of essays discussing current theology around the world. Read for a class.

[John Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will help those of us working with local communities to see how the new Majority Church is translating the scriptures for their context. This journey will take us all back to the scriptures to translate them again for our generation, a world very different from those that devised the way we have done church for the past several centuries.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out the great chapters by:
Tite Tienou, Andrew F. Walls, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, and Eloise Hiebert Meneses

[Sara Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

An edited volume presenting the need for globalized theology, how it should look, historical overview of its development, and the scope of it connectedness with other disciplines.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a series of articles around the theme of Global(izing) Theology.