Globalizing Theology

It is no secret that globalization is one of the most powerful forces in the twenty-first century. In nearly every realm--political, economic, cultural, ethnic, and religious--traditional boundaries are disappearing and people worldwide are more interconnected than ever. Recent decades have also seen the globalization of Christianity and the accompanying shift in the center of gravity of Christianity from the West to the southern hemisphere and Asia. As these realities take deeper root, scholars, students, and church leaders must grapple with the implications for theological reflection and method, not to mention missiological practice.

It is to this set of vital and complex issues that the contributors to Globalizing Theology address themselves in this collection of original and groundbreaking essays. Contributors include M. Daniel Carroll R., Lois McKinney Douglas, Paul G. Hiebert, Eloise Hiebert Meneses, James E. Plueddemann, Robert J. Priest, Vinoth Ramachandra, Steve Strauss, David K. Strong and Cynthia A. Strong, Tite Tinou, Charles E. Van Engen, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Andrew F. Walls, and Darrell L. Whiteman. A foreword by Wilbert R. Shenk is also included.

This international and internationally recognized group of scholars brings a multidisciplinary approach to the questions involved, including not only theological and missiological perspectives but also insights from history, sociology, ecclesiology, and anthropology.

Part 1 World Christianity and Theological Reflection

1. Christian Theology in an Era of World Christianity - Tite Tinou
2. Anthropological Reflections on Contextualizing Theology in a Globalizing World - Darrell L. Whiteman
3. Globalization and the Study of Christian History - Andrew F. Walls

Part 2 Methodological Issues for Globalizing Theology

4. "One Rule to Rule Them All?" Theological Method in an Era of World Christianity - Kevin J. Vanhoozer
5. The Globalizing Hermeneutic of the Jerusalem Council - David K. Strong and Cynthia A. Strong
6. Creeds, Confessions, and Global Theologizing: A Case Study in Comparative Christologies - Steve Strauss
7. The Glocal Church: Locality and Catholicity in a Globalizing World - Charles E. Van Engen
8. "Experience-Near Theologizing" in Diverse Human Contexts - Robert J. Priest

Part 3 Implications of Globalizing Theology

9. The Challenge of Economic Globalization for Theology: From Latin America to a Hermeneutics of Responsibility - M. Daniel Carroll R
10. Globalization, Nationalism, and Religious Resurgence - Vinoth Ramachandra
11. Bearing Witness in Rome with Theology from the Whole Church: Globalization, Theology, and Nationalism - Eloise Hiebert Meneses
12. Theological Implications of Globalizing Missions - James E. Plueddemann
13. Globalizing Theology and Theological Education - Lois McKinney Douglas
14. The Missionary as Mediator of Global Theologizing - Paul G. Hiebert

Conclusion: Globalizing Theology - Craig Ott
-Publisher.

Publisher Description

One of the most powerful forces in the twenty-first century is the increasing phenomenon of globalization. In nearly every realm of human activity, traditional boundaries are disappearing and people worldwide are more interconnected than ever. Christianity has also become more aware of global realities and the important role of the church in non-Western countries. Church leaders must grapple with the implications for theology and ministry in an ever-shrinking world. Globalizing Theology is a groundbreaking book that addresses these issues of vital importance to the church. It contains articles from leading scholars, including Tite Tienou, Kevin Vanhoozer, Charles Van Engen, M. Daniel Carroll R., Andrew Walls, Vinoth Ramachandra, and Paul Hiebert. Topics covered include the challenges that globalization brings to theology, how we can incorporate global perspectives into our thinking, and the effect a more global theology has on a variety of important issues.