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Global Gospel: An Introduction to Christianity on Five Continents
In this pathbreaking book, award-winning author Douglas Jacobsen describes global Christianity and provides a framework for understanding the varied experiences of Christians around the world. Focusing on the five big continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America, Jacobsen recounts their differing histories, contemporary experiences, and cultural theologies. In the current era of massive and dynamic global challenges, this accessible and fair-minded volume sets the stage for Christians worldwide to engage the gospel—and each other—more deeply. Global Gospel contains seventy-five maps, charts, and illustrations that aid comprehension. Accompanying videos can be found on YouTube’s “Global Christianity” channel (www.youtube.com/globalchristianity).
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2015
27 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Jacobsen
15 books7 followersDouglas Jacobsen (PhD, University of Chicago) is distinguished professor of church history and theology at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 27, 2024
Wow!! This book truly opened my eyes to global Christianity and the impact that Christians have made on the world - both positive, and negative! Dr.Jacobson does such a phenomenal job of breaking down the church, denominations, and continents in a way that you can digest easy and take lots of notes away from!
April 24, 2020
Many noteworthy takeaways from how Christianity has developed worldwide over the centuries. Enjoyed the writing style mostly, though it is a textbook and felt like it often. I appreciate his aim of openness and seeking to understand the many forms of global Christianity. However he seemed apprehensive to exclude nearly any viewpoint, as long as it was deemed Christian.
April 11, 2018
Helpful summation of the history of Christianity both through the lens of several traditions (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and, in a surprising distinction, Pentecostalism), then through its development on each of five cultural basins/continents.
Also, though this is not a strong focus, Jacobsen identifies a key idea in each region's history and practice that shapes their faith and suggests a cultural contribution to the rest of the Church:
- AFRICA: For Africa, he explored the concept and outworking of "ubuntu." the interconnectedness of all people which fuels a focus on reconciliation, awareness of one's ancestors, and a belief that God is the God of all ("to refer to God as my God or our God is nonesense because God cannot be owned.").
- LATIN AMERICA: "If one word captures the core message of the gospel in Latin America today it is 'liberation,'" the author asserts, exploring this emphasis through the lenses of socioeconomics, race, and spiritual deliverance.
- EUROPE: "Compared to Christians elsewhere, Christians in Europe have always placed great emphasis on 'truth,' the correspondence between Christian claims and reality itself," he says, exploring European Christianity's emphasis on science and reason, suggesting that this is a helpful legacy but has its limits and has been challenged.
- ASIA: Although summing up Christianity in Asia is a challenge, Jacobsen identifies the Asian emphasis on "harmony" as a significant contribution, unpacking its effects on civic loyalty, engaging respectfully with those of other faiths, and acknowledging and repairing broken relationships and disharmony.
- NORTH AMERICA: The key theological concept the author links with the American experience will come as no surprise. Jacobsen explores how Christian faith in North America is powerfully shaped by convictions about "freedom," particularly the conviction that faith must be freely chosen rather than a matter of culture or compulsion.
Pictures, charts, maps, and excerpts from the writings of key figures round out the picture. Footnotes and sources suggest direction for further study. It took some discipline to get through the whole book, but I think it will prove a good reference for years to come.
Accompanying videos can be found on YouTube's "Global Christianity" channel (www.youtube.com/globalchristianity), though I haven't watched them.
Also, though this is not a strong focus, Jacobsen identifies a key idea in each region's history and practice that shapes their faith and suggests a cultural contribution to the rest of the Church:
- AFRICA: For Africa, he explored the concept and outworking of "ubuntu." the interconnectedness of all people which fuels a focus on reconciliation, awareness of one's ancestors, and a belief that God is the God of all ("to refer to God as my God or our God is nonesense because God cannot be owned.").
- LATIN AMERICA: "If one word captures the core message of the gospel in Latin America today it is 'liberation,'" the author asserts, exploring this emphasis through the lenses of socioeconomics, race, and spiritual deliverance.
- EUROPE: "Compared to Christians elsewhere, Christians in Europe have always placed great emphasis on 'truth,' the correspondence between Christian claims and reality itself," he says, exploring European Christianity's emphasis on science and reason, suggesting that this is a helpful legacy but has its limits and has been challenged.
- ASIA: Although summing up Christianity in Asia is a challenge, Jacobsen identifies the Asian emphasis on "harmony" as a significant contribution, unpacking its effects on civic loyalty, engaging respectfully with those of other faiths, and acknowledging and repairing broken relationships and disharmony.
- NORTH AMERICA: The key theological concept the author links with the American experience will come as no surprise. Jacobsen explores how Christian faith in North America is powerfully shaped by convictions about "freedom," particularly the conviction that faith must be freely chosen rather than a matter of culture or compulsion.
Pictures, charts, maps, and excerpts from the writings of key figures round out the picture. Footnotes and sources suggest direction for further study. It took some discipline to get through the whole book, but I think it will prove a good reference for years to come.
Accompanying videos can be found on YouTube's "Global Christianity" channel (www.youtube.com/globalchristianity), though I haven't watched them.
December 11, 2016
This was a requirement for my lower division Theology class this semester, and I'm so glad I read it. Very easy to understand and simplifies the complex history of religion without watering down its significance. Hope more of my classes use it in the future!
April 17, 2020
Book was okay. Nice to have a church history book that moved through the history of the church in different parts of the world. Especially liked the chapter on Christianity in Africa.
That being said, I disagreed with many of his perspectives.
That being said, I disagreed with many of his perspectives.
February 23, 2020
Being as this is a textbook, it reads like a textbook: informative, but long and dry. I much preferred Church History In Plain Language by Shelley.
December 15, 2021
Informative and gripping. An impressive tour de force. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2022
Great read on Globalization of Christianity. The western mind will be enhanced by considering what Jacobsen writes about.
June 9, 2023
Really interesting overview of the history and culture of Christianity in different contexts.
July 18, 2023
This book does a great job at painting a large picture of Church History. Jacobsen is not evangelical so take note, his conclusions are not evangelical.
April 16, 2024
It was a course textbook that I really enjoyed. It gives a great overview of various areas of the world an how Christianity is expressed on each continent.
Read
May 26, 2024dnf ... part of class assignment
November 21, 2024
It was good information but very textbooky.
January 31, 2025
Surely we can do better than this, a "global" perspective of Christianity with a distinctly fundamentalist viewpoint that elevates American attitudes and beliefs above all others?
March 18, 2024
Read for: Christianities in the Global South
This textbook is great! The way Dr. Jacobsen lays out global Christianity in a simple yet informative way is amazing. I got a lot out of this text, especially the history of Christianity's spread and where it's projected to grow in numbers of followers in the future.
This textbook is great! The way Dr. Jacobsen lays out global Christianity in a simple yet informative way is amazing. I got a lot out of this text, especially the history of Christianity's spread and where it's projected to grow in numbers of followers in the future.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews