According to Odia, (2014), Christianity's center of gravity shift from Europe into the global south over the last 100 years has been the most dramatic since the advent of Christianity 2,000 years ago. Quantitatively, Odia also posits that it may also be the largest shift in religious affiliation that has ever occurred, anywhere. Jenkins, (2002), calls it a transforming moment in the history of religion worldwide: the past five centuries has had Christianity inextricably bound up with Europe and European-derived civilizations, particularly North America. However, this last century has seen a shift inexorably southward. Already today, the largest Christian communities on the planet are to be found in Africa and Latin America. In 1900 Christians in Europe and North America accounted for more than 80 per cent of the Christian community world, but century’s end these one-time Christian heartlands contributed less than 40 per cent, and in 2010 a mere 25 per cent. Today, the non-Western world boasts the majority – more than 60 percent – of the globe's Christian population. Whilst some have heralded this as the beginning of Christianity’s transformation from a primarily European religion to a truly global religion, others have noted that it is actually a reflection of the earlier demographic situation: Christians of the Global South were in the majority for the first 900 years of Christian history. “Christianity was born in Africa and Asia, and in our lifetimes, it is going home.” The idea of Christianity heading south is neither new nor unprecedented; as long ago as the 1970s, European scholars like Edward Norman and Walbert Buhlmann discussed this major demographic shift. And whilst proponents of secularization theory predicted... ... middle of paper ... ...ty Press. Scott, David W. M. 2014. 'The Southward Shift In Christianity'. Blog. Posts From The Frontier. http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/2011/04/27/the-southward-shift-in-christianity/comment-page-1/. Tennent, Timothy C. 2010. Invitation To World Missions. 1st ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. Van Buskirk, James Dale. 1931. Korea, Land Of The Dawn. 1st ed. New York: Missionary Education Movement of the United States and Canada. Walls, Andrew. 2000. 'The Expansion Of Christianity: An Interview With Andrew Walls'. Christian Century 117: 2--9. Walls, Andrew F. 1996. The Missionary Movement In Christian History. 1st ed. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books. Walls, Andrew F. 1997. 'Christianity'. In A New Handbook Of Living Religions, 1st ed., 59-92. London: Penguin. Wijsen, Frans Jozef Servaas, and Robert J Schreiter. 2007. Global Christianity. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Rodopi.
The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity written by Philip Jenkins looks over religion as a whole in the future. Philip Jenkins was a Distinguished Professor of History in 1973 and was the Co-Director for Baylor's Program on Historical Studies of Religion, he has studied the Bible and the Quran. The main religion being Christianity, as it flows South to other countries such as Central America and southern Asia and Africa. Jenkins also covers “The Rise of Christianity” where he predicts that it will increase in the coming years. The world would be moving from secularism to non-secular as the Northern states and countries are urbanized. The Southern countries are not urbanized, they believe in the practice of spirituality. In the Next Christendom, Jenkins also predicted that there will be a big population growth in the next coming years as Christianity spreads. Christianity as a whole can be adapted to many different cultures, as it is not as strict as many other religions such as Muslims. In other religions you would have to be
Thomas, Rick. History of Christianity in North America. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1986: 1-16.
Pullen, H. W. Modern Christianity, a Civilized Heathenism. Boston: William F. Gill and, 1875. Print.
Noll, Mark A. The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2002.
Calvin, Jean, A. N. S. Lane, and Hilary Osborne. The Institutes of Christian Religion. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1987. Print.
Christianity has been nipped and tucked over and over by the time periods, different leaders, and many other forces shaping it. Christianity had a large impact on the Roman Empire as well as it served as an institution to unify Europe following the fall of Rome. Even in todays age Pope Francis is making a change to unify the church and state around Europe and has a vision for Christianity.
Gonzalez, J. L. (1970). A History of Christian Thought: From the beginnings to the Council of Chalcedon. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
These are all common claims made about Christianity that many people believe, yet Philip Jenkins claims and proves them untrue in his book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. According to his book, Christianity is moving out of the global north and into the global south. In fact, Christianity is growing rapidly in countries such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He also writes about how Africa and Brazil will, within the next fifty years, replace Europe as the center of Christianity. Both of these countries have been heavily missionized within the past hundred years, and the number of Christians in each has raised millions.
Goheen, Michael, and Craig Bartholomew. Living at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Christian Worldview. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008. Print.
Smith, Huston. World’s Religions: A Guide to our Wisdom Traditions. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994.
on 25 of the most influential Christians of the previous century. This sample provides a window
Lutzer, Erwin W. The Doctrines That Divide: a Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians. Second ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1998. 168-169. Print.
Ziegenhals, Gretchen E The Christian Century; July 19, 1989; 106, 22; ProQuest Direct Complete pg.693
The rise of Christianity in western civilization is arguably among the most important memories in history. There is no denying what the spread of Christianity has done for the world, for better or worse. Its impact on western civilizations is unrivaled and unprecedented. Christianity slowly became something for many individuals to turn to; in times of hurt it provided comfort, in times of pleasure it gave thanks. The will and belief for salvation has driven individuals to be better, and to have a reference while in need.
Schaff, P. (1997). History of the Christian Church. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.