Global Christianity Overview

Summary

The lecture explores the significant transformation of Christianity's global distribution over time, emphasizing that today it is the most diverse and widespread it has ever been. Once centered in Europe, Christianity has become equally distributed across continents, with 25% of Christians in Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The speaker highlights how Christianity's influence has flattened, meaning no single region dominates anymore, and all regions contribute equally to its global identity. The lecture stresses the need for Christians to engage in global conversations and collaborate across cultures to meet the challenges of this interconnected world.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Christianity is currently undergoing the most significant transformation in its history, surpassing events like the Reformation and the conversion of Constantine.
• 📊 The global distribution of Christians has shifted dramatically: in 1800, 85% of Christians lived in Europe, but today, only 25% do, with other significant populations in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and North America.
• 🌐 Christianity has become increasingly diverse and globally dispersed, becoming what the speaker describes as 'flat,' meaning no single region holds dominance over the religion.
• 🏛️ The first globalization of Christianity occurred early on, spreading through the Roman and Persian Empires, and even reaching places like India, Ethiopia, Armenia, and China by the year 650.
• ⚔️ Christianity faced significant challenges from the spread of Islam after the 7th century, which led to its decline in certain regions and its movement northward into Europe.
• 📉 Between 1100 and 1500, Christianity experienced a contraction, particularly in Asia, due to the Crusades and increased Islamic persecution, making Europe the dominant Christian region by 1500.
• 🚀 A new wave of globalization for Christianity began after 1500, with Catholic and Protestant missionaries spreading the religion worldwide. This trend accelerated after 1900 with the rise of Pentecostalism.
• 🤝 The modern Christian world is highly interconnected, meaning actions by Christians in one region affect believers globally. This emphasizes the need for cooperation and unity among Christians worldwide.
• 📈 Today, Christianity is the most globally dispersed religion, with roughly equal Christian populations across Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and North America, creating a new balance in global Christianity.
• 💬 To thrive in this interconnected and diverse environment, Christians must engage in global conversations, learning from one another and adapting their beliefs to local cultures to create a positive impact worldwide.

Q & A

What is the central claim made at the beginning of the lecture?

The central claim is that we are currently living through the most significant transformation in the history of Christianity, even more significant than the conversion of Constantine, the split between Catholicism and Orthodoxy, or the Reformation.

How has the geographic distribution of Christians changed from 1800 to today?

In 1800, 85% of all Christians lived in Europe. By 1900, that number dropped to 68%. Today, only 25% of Christians live in Europe, with 25% in Africa, 25% in Latin America, 15% in Asia, and 10% in North America.

What is meant by the term 'first globalization' of Christianity?

The 'first globalization' refers to the initial spread of Christianity from its origin in Jerusalem to various parts of the world, including the Roman and Persian Empires, Armenia, Georgia, Ethiopia, Ireland, Arabia, and even as far as China by 650 AD.

What factors led to the 'great contraction' of Christianity between 1100 and 1500?

The 'great contraction' occurred due to several factors, including the rise of Islam, which led to the loss of Christian territories in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Crusades, which worsened relations between Christians and Muslims and increased persecution of Christians in Islamic territories.

What role did Pentecostalism play in the new globalization of Christianity?

Pentecostalism, emerging around 1900, played a significant role in spreading Christianity globally. It is a highly adaptable form of Christianity, which contributed to its rapid spread and success in various cultures around the world.

What does the term 'flat' mean in the context of global Christianity?

In this context, 'flat' means that no single continent or region dominates the Christian population globally. Christianity is now evenly distributed across the world, with roughly equal numbers of Christians in Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and North America.

Why does the speaker believe the concept of a 'global North' and 'global South' is inadequate?

The speaker finds the global North/South division inadequate because it oversimplifies the complexity and diversity of Christianity across regions. The global South, for example, includes very different regions like Latin America, Africa, and Asia, while the global North lumps together distinct areas like North America and Europe.

What responsibilities do Christians have in this new 'flat' global Christian world?

Christians now have global responsibilities to care for the world as a whole. Their actions and words in one region can impact Christians elsewhere, so they must engage in global conversations, learn from each other, and cooperate to address global issues.

How does the global spread of Christianity compare to other major world religions?

Christianity is the most globally dispersed religion, with a significant presence on every continent. In contrast, other major religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam are more regionally concentrated, with most adherents living in specific parts of Asia or Africa.

What are the implications of Christianity's global diversity for the future of the religion?

The global diversity of Christianity means that it will be shaped by various cultures, and Christians will need to engage in more cross-cultural dialogue and cooperation. This diversity also places new responsibilities on Christians to consider the global impact of their actions and to work together for the good of the world.