A Brief History Of Christianity In Asia Beginnings Endings And Reflections

The church was born in Asia and yet we typically know very little about the development of the church in Asia. This book offers a brief accounting of the history of Christianity in Asia. Unfortunately, most church history textbooks give little space to the expansion and expressions of Asian Christianity. This book is designed to be an introductory exposure. Boasting two-thirds of the world population in more than fifty nations or autonomous regions, Asia's immensity is unparalleled. A book of this length cannot explore two thousand years of rich and diverse history in much depth but will give the reader names, places, and resources for further research.

The story of Christianity in the West has often been told, but the history of Christianity in the East is not as well known. The seed was the same: the good news of Jesus Christ for the whole world, which Christians call "the gospel." But it was sown by different sowers; it was planted in different soil; it grew with a different flavor; and it was gathered by different reapers. It is too often forgotten that the faith moved east across Asia as early as it moved west into Europe. Western church history tends to follow Paul to Philippi and to Rome and on across Europe to the conversion of Constantine and the barbarians. With some outstanding exceptions, only intermittently has the West looked beyond Constantinople as its center. It was a Christianity that has for centuries remained unashamedly Asian. A History of Christianity in Asia makes available immense amounts of research on religious pluralism of Asia and how Christianity spread long before the modern missionary movement went forth in the shelter of Western military might. Invaluable for historians of Asia and scholars of mission, it is stimulating for all readers interested in Christian history. --

The history of Christianity in Asia is little dealt with either by Church historians or by historians of religion. It is generally unknown, even amongst theologians, that there was a long history of Christianity in Persia, India, Central Asia and China before the appearance on the scene of the first missionaries from the West. A systematic history of the Christian Church in Asia before 1500 is needed. Drawing on material hitherto unknown in the English speaking world, this is a timely and important book because there is a heightened interest today in the early forms of Asian Christianity. The Church in Asia today seeks to find forms of religious expression that are in harmony with Asian culture as was the case in the earlier period. The book covers the period up to 1500 CE. The geographical areas dealt with are Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, India, Central and South East Asia, China and Japan. The book takes into account the outward development of the Church in these areas as well as the inner, theological issues.

Named by the International Bulletin of Missionary Studies as an Outstanding Book of 2014 for Mission Studies Despite the ongoing global expansion of Christianity, there remains a lack of comprehensive scholarship on its development in Asia. This volume fills the gap by exploring the world of Asian Christianity and its manifold expressions, including worship, theology, spirituality, inter-religious relations, interventions in society, and mission. The contributors, from over twenty countries, deconstruct many of the widespread misconceptions and interpretations of Christianity in Asia. They analyze how the growth of Christian beliefs throughout the continent is linked with the socio-political and cultural processes of colonization, decolonization, modernization, democratization, identity construction of social groups, and various social movements. With a particular focus on inter-religious encounters and emerging theological and spiritual paradigms, the volume provides alternative frames for understanding the phenomenon of conversion and studies how the scriptures of other religious traditions are used in the practice of Christianity within Asia.

Christianity in Asia explores the history, development, and current state of Christianity across the world's largest and most populous continent. - Offers detailed coverage of the growth of Christianity within South Asia; among the thousands of islands comprising Southeast Asia; and across countries whose Christian origins were historically linked, including Vietnam, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea - Brings together a truly international team of contributors, many of whom are natives of the countries they are writing about - Considers the Middle Eastern countries whose Christian roots are deepest, yet have turbulent histories and uncertain futures - Explores the ways in which Christians in Asian countries have received and transformed Christianity into their local or indigenous religion - Shows Christianity to be a vibrant contemporary movement in many Asian countries, despite its comparatively minority status in these regions.

Christian-Muslim Relations, a Bibliographical History 12 is a complete history of the works on relations from 1700 to 1800 in the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, Africa and the Americas. It contains descriptions, assessments and bibliographical details of these works.