God S Continent Christianity Islam And Europe S Religious Crisis

What does the future hold for European Christianity? Is the Christian church doomed to collapse under the weight of globalization, Western secularism, and a flood of Muslim immigrants? Is Europe, in short, on the brink of becoming "Eurabia"? Though many pundits are loudly predicting just such a scenario, Philip Jenkins reveals the flaws in these arguments in God's Continent and offers a much more measured assessment of Europe's religious future. While frankly acknowledging current tensions, Jenkins shows, for instance, that the overheated rhetoric about a Muslim-dominated Europe is based on politically convenient myths: that Europe is being imperiled by floods of Muslim immigrants, exploding Muslim birth-rates, and the demise of European Christianity. He points out that by no means are Muslims the only new immigrants in Europe. Christians from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe are also pouring into the Western countries, and bringing with them a vibrant and enthusiastic faith that is helping to transform the face of European Christianity. Jenkins agrees that both Christianity and Islam face real difficulties in surviving within Europe's secular culture. But instead of fading away, both have adapted, and are adapting. Yes, the churches are in decline, but there are also clear indications that Christian loyalty and devotion survive, even as institutions crumble. Jenkins sees encouraging signs of continuing Christian devotion in Europe, especially in pilgrimages that attract millions--more in fact than in bygone "ages of faith." The third book in an acclaimed trilogy that includes The Next Christendom and The New Faces of Christianity, God's Continent offers a realistic and historically grounded appraisal of the future of Christianity in a rapidly changing Europe.

What does the future hold for European Christianity? Is the Christian church doomed to collapse under the weight of globalization, Western secularism, and a flood of Muslim immigrants? Is Europe, in short, on the brink of becoming "Eurabia"? Though many pundits are loudly predicting just such a scenario, Philip Jenkins reveals the flaws in these arguments in God's Continent and offers a much more measured assessment of Europe's religious future. While frankly acknowledging current tensions, Jenkins shows, for instance, that the overheated rhetoric about a Muslim-dominated Europe is based on politically convenient myths: that Europe is being imperiled by floods of Muslim immigrants, exploding Muslim birth-rates, and the demise of European Christianity. He points out that by no means are Muslims the only new immigrants in Europe. Christians from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe are also pouring into the Western countries, and bringing with them a vibrant and enthusiastic faith that is helping to transform the face of European Christianity. Jenkins agrees that both Christianity and Islam face real difficulties in surviving within Europe's secular culture. But instead of fading away, both have adapted, and are adapting. Yes, the churches are in decline, but there are also clear indications that Christian loyalty and devotion survive, even as institutions crumble. Jenkins sees encouraging signs of continuing Christian devotion in Europe, especially in pilgrimages that attract millions--more in fact than in bygone "ages of faith." The third book in an acclaimed trilogy that includes The Next Christendom and The New Faces of Christianity, God's Continent offers a realistic and historically grounded appraisal of the future of Christianity in a rapidly changing Europe.

In this new and substantially expanded Third Edition, Philip Jenkins continues to illuminate the remarkable expansion of Christianity in the global South--in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Drawing upon the extensive new scholarship that has appeared on this topic in recent years, he asks how the new Christianity is likely to affect the poor, among whom it finds its most devoted adherents. How should we interpret the enormous success of prosperity churches across the Global South? Politically, what will be the impact of new Christian movements? Will Christianity contribute to liberating the poor, to give voices to the previously silent, or does it threaten only to bring new kinds of division and conflict? Does Christianity liberate women, or introduce new scriptural bases for subjection? Acclaim for previous editions of The Next Christendom: Named one of the Top Religion Books of 2002 by USA Today Named One of the Top Ten Religion Books of the Year by Booklist (2002) Winner of the Christianity Today Book Award in the category of "Christianity and Culture" (2002) "Jenkins is to be commended for reminding us, throughout the often gripping pages of this lively work...that the history of Christianity is the history of innovative--and unpredictable--adaptations." --The New York Times Book Review "This is a landmark book. Jenkin's thesis is comprehensively researched; his analysis is full of insight; and his projection of the future may indeed prove to be prophetic." --Baptist Times "A valuable and provocative look at the phenomenon widely ignored in the affluent North but likely to be of enormous importance in the century ahead.... The Next Christendom is chillingly realistic about the relationship between Christianity and Islam." --Russell Shaw, Crisis "If the times demand nothing less than a major rethinking of contemporary global history from a Christian perspective, The Next Christendom will be one of the significant landmarks pointing the way." --Mark Noll, Books & Culture

The best-sellling author of The New Christendom continues his study of the growth of Christianity in the southern regions of the world, examining the influence of the Bible on the peoples of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, including the impact on growing liberation movements and the rise of women's rights.

In this groundbreaking book, renowned religion scholar Philip Jenkins offers a lost history, revealing that, for centuries, Christianity's center was actually in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, with significant communities extending as far as China. The Lost History of Christianity unveils a vast and forgotten network of the world's largest and most influential Christian churches that existed to the east of the Roman Empire. These churches and their leaders ruled the Middle East for centuries and became the chief administrators and academics in the new Muslim empire. The author recounts the shocking history of how these churches—those that had the closest link to Jesus and the early church—died. Jenkins takes a stand against current scholars who assert that variant, alternative Christianities disappeared in the fourth and fifth centuries on the heels of a newly formed hierarchy under Constantine, intent on crushing unorthodox views. In reality, Jenkins says, the largest churches in the world were the “heretics” who lost the orthodoxy battles. These so-called heretics were in fact the most influential Christian groups throughout Asia, and their influence lasted an additional one thousand years beyond their supposed demise. Jenkins offers a new lens through which to view our world today, including the current conflicts in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Without this lost history, we lack an important element for understanding our collective religious past. By understanding the forgotten catastrophe that befell Christianity, we can appreciate the surprising new births that are occurring in our own time, once again making Christianity a true world religion.

Most trouble spots have some sort of religious component, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Israel and Palestine. These conflicts are of great geo-political importance and of interest to the US. Yet, argues Farr, our foreign policy is handicapped by an inability to understand the role of religion in these places.

Following the publication of ‘The Da Vinci Code’, a worldwide audience is now aware of the existence of the mysterious cult of Opus Dei. However, very little is actually known about this secret Catholic organisation. The book investigates the conspiracy theories behind the movement from its inception in 1928 to the present day. It includes Opus Dei’s activities in Spain where the movement's founder, Escriva, allied his group with Franco’s regime – leading to several Opus Dei members occupying key positions in his government – and in Nazi Germany where in 1945, many leading Nazis escaped through the Knights Of Malta and the Vatican ‘rat run’ to the Americas. It goes on to explore Opus Dei’s political involvement in several South American countries such as with Augusto Pinochet’s Chilean Junta and its links with the Vatican – John Paul II gave the movement a unique status in the church making it a ‘personal prelature’ strengthening its area of influence in the appointment of a future Pope. In America, close links were forged between Opus Dei and the CIA – both of which were founded around the same time. Ronald Reagan’s appointment of several high profile Opus Dei members is discussed, as is the arrest of double agent Robert Hanson in the 1980s and the Waco Siege. Spreading the net wider still, Wilkins also examines Opus Dei’s influence across the former Eastern Bloc in countries like Hungary, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Kazakhstan and concludes with a look at the present day state of Opus Dei and how it is still working behind the scenes in many governments today…

""Samuel Huntington's thesis, which argues that there appear to be aspects of Islam that could be on a collision course with the politics and values of Western societies, has provoked much controversy. The purpose of this study is to offer a particular response to Huntington's thesis by making a comparison between the origins of Islam and Christianity; the two religions that can be said to have shaped, in contrasting ways, the history of the Western world. The early history of each faith continues to have a profound impact on the way in which their respective followers have interpreted the relationship between faith and political life. The book draws significant, critical and creative conclusions from the analysis for contemporary intercultural understanding, and in particular for the debate about the justification of violence for political and religious ends. Andrew Kirk offers a profound analysis of Christianity, Islam, and Western civilisation, providing alternatives to a clash of civilisations. He secures his right to advise others through an honest critique of his own tradition."" Matt Zahniser Scholar-in-Residence at Greenville College, Greenville, IL & Professor Emeritus of Christian Mission at Asbury Theological Seminary, KY ""An eminent missiologist, who has long reflected on Christianity and the West, applies his mind to Islam and the West. The result is a careful analysis of current debates, the identification from a Christian perspective of fundamental issues, and a prophetic call. At the centre is a valuable study of how the origins of the two faiths can determine their views of how religion relates to politics, which leads to an important discussion of the missions of both Muslims and Christians to the West."" Ida Glaser, Academic Director, Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford ""In his latest book Civilisations in Conflict? Islam, the West and Christian Faith Andrew Kirk takes on Samuel Huntington's thesis of a clash of civilisations. Kirk takes his reader on a journey into history, showing that contemporary political stances by Muslims and Christians can be better comprehended when some of the choices made in the formative years of both traditions are understood. Rather than simply endorsing Huntington's thesis of an envisioned clash, Kirk focuses on the second and less well-known part of Huntington's thesis: 'the remaking of World Order'. He ends his book with a passionate appeal to the adherents of both Christianity and Islam to safeguard the prophetic core of their traditions. Prophetism, according to Kirk, can function as a critical notion against the development and impact of static and oppressive religious and political ideologies that enhance the probability of a clash of civilisations. Even more, the prophetic core of both religions can contribute significantly to a new - and shared - world order. A book worth reading "" Martha Frederiks Professor of Missiology, World Christianity and Interreligious Dialogue, Utrecht University J. Andrew Kirk has spent much of his life teaching theological subjects in tertiary educational institutions in Argentina and England. He has also taught courses on all six continents. Since retirement he has been involved on a part-time basis with graduate institutes in Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom. He is the author of many books, including What is Mission? Theological Explorations and The Future of Reason, Science and Faith: Following Modernity and Postmodernity. He is married with three children and two grandchildren.