Christianity as a World Religion

‘This revised and updated third edition of ‘Christianity as a World Religion’, provides in lucid prose a well-documented fascinating account of diverse expressions of Christianity in all the continents from its inception to the present day from a global, ecumenical and post-colonial perspective. The authors attempt to show how Christianity is locally rooted and the same time globally connected through increased immigration and networks, is a unique contribution.’ * Peter Vethanayagamony, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, USA *‘This volume manages to cover an extraordinary amount of subject matter. In doing so, it presents a unique and essential peripheral vision of the global phenomenon that is Christianity. As an introductory text it is much needed.’ * Jack Cunningham, Bishop Grosseteste University, UK *‘Methodologically rich and substantive in its coverage, if you are looking for a comprehensive study of world Christianity, this is the volume.’ * Lalsangkima Pachuau, Asbury Theological Seminary, USA *

‘This is the go-to primer on the story of Christianity’s expanse and the issues it has faced around the globe. Readers will find this third edition, with deepened discussions and updated topics, a welcome revision to an already excellent book.’

* Alexander Chow, University of Edinburgh, UK *‘Christianity as a World Religion traverses the rich tapestry of Christian traditions, examining cultural, historical, and social dimensions with precision and nuance. Kim and Kim masterfully balance Christianity’s universality and locality, which encompasses a multitude of traditions, interpretations, and practices. This book stands out for its scholarly depth and accessible prose. I have used earlier editions of this book as a main textbook in undergraduate and graduate courses and frequently recommend them to anyone seeking to understand Christianity as a world religion..’ * Soojin Chung, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA *’In the midst of a boom in publications on World Christianity, the already classic study by Sebastian and Kirsteen Kim – now in a third and revised edition - deserves special attention. It offers innovative approaches to “Christianity as a World Religion”. Arranged by continents, it describes Christianity as a globally widespread and locally rooted movement, with a special focus on processes of “globalization from below”. Indispensable for future research.’ * Klaus Koschorke, University of Munich, Germany *‘Christianity as a World Religion has established itself as a key textbook in courses related to world Christianity and mission in several academic institutions in different contexts. In places I am familiar with I have witnessed it in high demand by undergraduates and by postgraduate researchers and scholars. Lucidly written – with both the specialist and non-specialist audience in mind – the book offers in succinct form a history of worldwide Christianity: how Christianity is a global religion yet is always embedded in local cultural contexts. World Christianity is often taken to mean Christianity in the global south (or ‘non-west’), but this book challenges such notions by including European and North American Christianities as equally part of that concept. This third and expanded edition utilises new literature, especially focusing on the interconnected nature of global Christianity as well as bringing in the authors’ reflections based on their experience of relocating to a new geographical and academic setting since the last edition. No doubt this superb book will continue to be much sought after.’ * Muthuraj Swamy, Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide, UK *‘One sure indication of the success of a book is the number of its editions. Sebastian and Kirsteen Kim’s Christianity as a World Religion’s third edition is not just a reprint with superficial improvements. New features, including new and updated issues, fresh maps and pictures, reformulated chapter summaries, study questions, and recommended readings, make this new edition all the more helpful and indispensable textbook for a course on contemporary Christianity. Once again, I am proud to recommend it most warmly.’ * Peter C. Phan, Georgetown University, USA *‘Amidst all the complexities and diversity of World Christianity, the need remains for an introductory volume that provides a textured overview of the history and current realities of Christianity as a global religion. This updated edition of Sebastian and Kirsteen’s fine work does exactly that in a remarkably succinct yet rich way. I recommend it warmly.’ * Paul Bendor-Samuel, The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, UK *A richly detailed portrait of contemporary Christian diversity informed by a masterful synthesis of mission history. Sebastian and Kirsteen Kim’s fully updated, panoramic overview of Christianity as a two-thousand-year-old global faith is both an invaluable teaching resource and a notable scholarly achievement! * William P. Gregory, Clarke University, USA *Sebastian and Kirsteen Kim provide us with the third edition of Christianity as a World Religion. I have used the first two editions for both undergraduate and graduate courses. The editions have been well-received by the students—informative and accessible. This third edition offers the readers some important additions which upgrade the value of this textbook. First, while the third edition continues to be informative and accessible, the authors include some methodological and interdisciplinary approaches that enrich the study of Christianity as a religion and provide material to raise critical questions, such as the use of the term world Christianity, social-scientific approaches to lived Christian experiences, and geo-political dynamics. Second, the geographical division of Christianity is integrated to historical depth and inter-religious and inter-cultural processes illustrating features that make Christianity a world religion: Translatability, the role of gender, decline and growth, internal tensions, and global connectedness. Kim & Kim offer us a textbook that grounds both the local and the global dynamics of Christianity creating space for the particularities of Christian expressions to be further discussed * Carlos F. Cardoza Orlandi, Baylor University, USA *

Sebastian Kim is Robert Wiley Professor of Renewal in Public Life and Academic Dean for the Korean Studies Center, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA.

Kirsteen Kim is Paul E. Pierson Professor of World Christianity and Associate Dean for the Center for Missiological Research, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA.