This interdisciplinary introduction offers students a truly global overview of the worldwide spread and impact of Christianity. It is enriched throughout by detailed historic and ethnographic material, showing how broad themes within Christianity have been adopted and adapted by Christian denominations within each major region of the world.

List of Illustrations vii List of Contributors viii Foreword ixRobert W. Hefner Acknowledgments xi Map 0.1 Percentage majority religion by province, 2010 xii Introduction 1Charles E. Farhadian Part I: Africa 5 1 Middle Eastern and North African Christianity: Persisting in the Lands of Islam 7Heather J. Sharkey 2 Christian Belongings in East Africa: Flocking to the Churches 21Ben Knighton 3 West African Christianity: Padres, Pastors, Prophets, and Pentecostals 36Ogbu Kalu 4 Christianity in Southern Africa: The Aesthetics of Well-Being 51Frederick Klaits Part II: Europe 63 5 Christianity in Western Europe: Mission Fields, Old and New? 65Simon Coleman 6 Christianity in Eastern Europe: A Story of Pain, Glory, Persecution, and Freedom 77Peter Kuzmic Part III: Asia 91 7 Christianity in South Asia: Negotiating Religious Pluralism 93Arun Jones 8 Christianity in Southeast Asia: Similarity and Difference in a Culturally Diverse Region 108Barbara Watson Andaya 9 Christianity in East Asia: Evangelicalism and the March First Independence Movement in Korea 122Timothy S. Lee Part IV: Americas 137 10 Christianity in North America: Changes and Challenges in a Land of Promise 139Kevin J. Christiano 11 Central America and the Caribbean: Christianity on the Periphery 154Virginia Garrard-Burnett 12 Christianity in Latin America: Changing Churches in a Changing Continent 171Samuel Escobar 13 Brazilian Charisma: Pentecostalized Christianity in Latin America’s Largest Nation 186R. Andrew Chesnut Part V: The Pacific 201 14 Christianity in Australia and New Zealand: Faith and Politics in Secular Soil 203Marion Maddox 15 Christianity in Polynesia: Transforming the Islands 218Ian Breward 16 Christianity in Micronesia: The Interplay between Church and Culture 230Francis X. Hezel 17 Christianity in Melanesia: Transforming the Warrior Spirit 244Garry W. Trompf Conclusion: World Christianity – Its History, Spread, and Social Influence 259Robert D. Woodberry Index 272

"We have good reason to welcome the publication of Introducing World Christianity. Capably guided by editor Charles Farhadian, the highly qualifi ed authors of this compendium lucidly interpret these times of rapid growth and often confusing change in global Christianity. The book integrates historical interpretation with perspectives informed by expertise in the social sciences, while taking account of the essentially missionary nature of the Christian Church. This will become a standard reference work." Darrell L. Guder, Princeton Theological Seminary This is an engaging multidisciplinary introduction to the worldwide spread and impact of Christianity. Bringing together chapters from leading scholars in history, sociology, anthropology, and religious studies, this book examines the major transformations in contemporary societies brought about through the influence of Christianity. Each chapter shows how the broad themes within Christianity have been adopted and adapted by Christian denominations within each major region of the world. In this way, the book paints a global picture of the impact of Christianity, enriched by detailed historic and ethnographic material for each particular region. Throughout, the chapters examine Protestant, Evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox forms of Christianity. The combination of broader perspectives and deep analysis of particular regions, illuminating the social, cultural, political, and religious features of changes brought about by Christianity, makes this book essential reading for students of world Christianity.

"This volume acknowledges the polycentric nature of Christian ecumene. It combines historical breadth and sociological depth. ...With its rich variety of research methods, writing styles, and case studies, this volume is a welcome addition to the field of world Christianity and could be a valuable reference book both to experts and lay readers."  (Mission Studies, 2013) “Any scholar wanting background information on Christianity in any region of the world will find this book very helpful.”  (Ecclesiastical History, 1 July 2013) “I do think, however, there is some merit in understanding how the world views Christianity at large. Because of that, I do recommend this resource with the qualification that the reader realize that this book is painting with extremely large strokes the Christian faith.”  (Christian Book Notes, 1 July 2013) “It should prove to be a valuable resource for both classroom and specialist use.  Summing Up: Recommended.  Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty.”  (Choice, 1 October 2012)