In a conversation that covers two millenia of Christian history and every region of the world, noted historian Philip Jenkins — the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of the Humanities at the Pennsylvania State University and Distinguished Senior Fellow at Baylor University’s Institute for Study of Religion — talks about the ever-changing nature of Christianity.  Our discussion begins with a reminder that a strong understanding of history is essential for understanding the contemporary religious world.  Contrary to the popular notion that Christianity is a European faith, Jenkins reveals that this religious tradition had an extensive geographic reach through its inception up until the 13th century.  The podcast then turns attention to how Christianity has been growing and changing in the “global South,” which includes Africa, Asia and Latin America.  We see how Pentecostal and charismatic forms of Christianity tend to predominate in these regions and discuss how Christians on these continents view The Bible.  We end our discussion with some speculation on how religion in the “global South” may be influencing Christian beliefs and practices in Europe and North America.  Prof. Jenkins also reveals his three favorite Western movies.  Recorded: July 15, 2010.

RELATED LINKS

Prof. Jenkin’s website at Baylor University.

Prof. Jenkin’s website at Penn State University.

The Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and Two Emperors Decided What Christians Would Believe for the Next 1500 Years by Philip Jenkins.

The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia — And How It Died by Philip Jenkins.

The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South by Philip Jenkins.

The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins.

The Future Church: How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing the Catholic Church by John Allen.

Wikipedia page on fastest growing religion referenced in podcast.

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3 Responses to “Philip Jenkins on Global Christianity”

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