The Next Christendom – The Coming of Global Christianity

The Next Christendom The Coming of Global Christianity

The first edition of The Next Christendom has been hailed as a landmark in our understanding of modern Christianity. In this new and substantially expanded second edition, Jenkins continues to illuminate the remarkable expanion of Christianity in the global South–in Africa, Asia, and Latin America–as well as the clash betwen Islam and Christianity since September 11. Among the major topics covered are the growing schism between Northern and Southern churches over issues of gender and sexuality, immigrant and ethnic churches in North America, and a special section on the split within the Anglican Communion. The first in a three-book trilogy on the changes besetting modern Christianity, this award-winning book will be welcomed by all of those who have come to recognize Philip Jenkins as one of our leading commentators on religion and world affairs.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A Book of Hope
Jenkins' writing is exciting, but his research and findings are even more so. As I read the book in one sitting, I put the book down and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and I rose again with a new hope for our generation. Let me explain.

Jenkins not only documents the robust condition of the Church in Africa and Asia and Latin America, which was hopeful enough, but shows something else: that the much prayed-for renewal of the Western Church may just be in the immigration of Third World peoples who bring their faithful (conservative) Christianity (Latin Catholics, African Anglicans and Asian Presbyterians) into the weak, Postmodern remnants of what we all have come to see as a dying West. I believe that Jenkin's work is some of the most important writing in Christianity today. This book (and indeed the other two in this trilogy) is an essential read for pastors, theologians, seminary students, as well as lay leaders who are concerned about the future of world missions and home missions alike. Indeed, it is a book for all of us who feel as though we are captives in Babylon. Jenkin's book makes me think that a post captivity is on its way. But our future hope is coming in ways we could have never imagined. And isn't that just like the Kingdom of God? Isn't that just like Jesus?

5 Stars Magisterial Book
Whether you like his thesis or no, Philip Jenkins as accurately depicted the future of a truly global Christendom, one that is anchored in, and in some respects orchestrated by, citizens of the Global South.

The recent GAFCON conference represents something far more significant than the largely ignorant major media suggest. Among Colonialist-dominated Anglicans, the conference serves as the first major step toward asserting their natural role as Communion leaders. The process of liberation comes as no great surprise to those familiar with Jenkins' monograph.

While forthcoming books may improve upon this one, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity remains a magisterial work, one that should occupy a prominent place in the library of every serious scholar of Christian history.

3 Stars Paradigm-altering but tedious
In The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, Philip Jenkins paints a picture of the future of Christianity in colors unfamiliar to typical American thinking. He clearly delineates the characteristics of the rapidly growing Christian churches outside Western Europe and the United States: conservative and charismatic. He illustrates the potential conflicts between Christianity and other major religions such as Islam or Hinduism. And he speculates about what the effects will be on established churches of having a Christian majority outside the West. The information he presents is fascinating and paradigm-altering. His writing is clear and his organization straight-forward. Nevertheless, I found the book to be tedious. The writing is dry and seemingly designed only for the utilitarian purpose of conveying information, far removed from any literary pleasure. But the information contained in this book is critical for formation of an accurate picture of the past, present, and future of global Christianity. On those grounds I recommend it to anyone interested in the growth of the Christian church, although I wouldn't recommend it for reading enjoyment.

2 Stars dangerous and useful at one and the same time
This text was one of my texts at Seminary (I'm studying to be a pastor) and I was at first in love with this book. It is a scathing indictment of the Western (especially United States-ian) Church. It is an encouragement to see how the Christian faith is not politically bound to a nation-state, but rather much more universal in its applicability. In that sense this book in invaluable. However, the dangerous part of the book comes in the very definition that Jenkins uses for Christianity. What he defines as "Christianity" is not Christianity at all, but rather a philosophy which incorporates some Christian values. In an era in which Universalism is rampant, this definition is dangerous to the orthodox Christian faith. Be that as it may, it is a useful book if thought about critically.

4 Stars observant but not complete
Jenkins points out demographic and sociological trends in Christianity that, sadly enough, do need to be brought to light for many North American Christians. He provides good back up and a thorough layout. What is most lacking in his book, from a Christian perspective, is that he posits the issue as one where Truth follows consensus as opposed to consensus following Truth. The thing that Christianity must be careful of, that Jenkins does little to warn against, is to believe that strength in numbers makes things right or true, leading too often to force. Instead, we ought to be sensitive to where consensus lies and give it much credence, without making the Truth of God something subject to democratic vote.

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