List of Illustrations xi Voices of World Christianity xix Introduction to World Christianity xxi Part I Who They Are: F our Christian Mega-Traditions Introduction 1 What Christians Hold in Common 1 Christian Traditions 4 1 The Orthodox Tradition 7 Spirituality 7 Salvation 11 Structure 13 Story 14 Notes 19 Suggestions for Further Reading 19 2 The Catholic Tradition 21 Spirituality 21 Salvation 25 Structure 28 Story 30 Notes 33 Suggestions for Further Reading 34 3 The Protestant Tradition 35 Spirituality 36 Salvation 38 Structure 41 Story 44 Note 47 Suggestions for Further Reading 47 4 The Pentecostal Tradition 49 Spirituality 50 Salvation 54 Structure 56 Story 59 Notes 60 Suggestions for Further Reading 60 Part II How They Got There: A Glob al History of Christianity Introduction 63 Christianity''s Pre-History and Relationship with Judaism 63 Christian History and Globalizations 65 5 The Ancient Tradition 67 Convictions 68 Encounters 77 Notes 91 Suggestions for Further Reading 91 6 The Great Division and the Age of the East 93 Convictions 95 Encounters 102 Notes 117 Suggestions for Further Reading 118 7 The Rise of the West and Decline of the East 119 Convictions 120 Encounters 131 Notes 143 Suggestions for Further Reading 143 8 Christianity in a Global Era 145 Convictions 146 Encounters 156 Notes 172 Suggestions for Further Reading 172 Part III Where They Are: Chris tianity in Nine World Regions Introduction 175 Immigrants, Missionaries, and the Changing Shape of World Christianity 175 Mapping World Christianity 177 9 The Middle East and North Africa 181 Description of the Region 183 Christian Profile 186 Faith and Ethnicity 188 Weariness and Decline 189 Spirituality and Survival in Egypt 191 Turkey and Armenia 193 Israel and the Palestinian Territories 195 Hope? 197 Notes 198 Suggestions for Further Reading 199 10 Eastern Europe 201 Description of the Region 201 Current Christian Profile 202 The Crucible of Communism 205 The Balkans: Blending Ethnicity and Faith 206 Catholic Central Europe 209 Orthodoxy in the Russian Sphere of Influence 214 Notes 221 Suggestions for Further Reading 221 11 Central and South Asia 223 Description of the Region 224 Christian Profile 225 Overview of Christianity in South Asia 228 Religion and Nation-Building in India 231 The Varieties of Indian Christianity 234 Christianity and Dalits 239 Jesus, Christianity, and Indian Culture 240 Notes 241 Suggestions for Further Reading 242 12 Western Europe 243 Description of the Region 244 Christian Profile 246 Catholic Western Europe 249 Scandinavia''s Protestant Turf 255 Religiously Mixed Western Europe 256 Notes 263 Suggestions for Further Reading 263 13 Sub-Saharan Africa 265 Description of the Region 266 Christian Profile 268 The Crucible of Colonization 270 The Postcolonial Era 272 Challenges 274 Nigeria: Christianity, Islam, and the Evangelization of the World 277 Church and Politics in South Africa 279 Ethiopia: The Last Christian Empire 281 Notes 283 Suggestions for Further Reading 284 14 East Asia 285 Description of the Region 286 Christian Profile 290 Asian Spirituality and Christian Faith 290 Faith and Politics in the Philippines 292 Christianity''s Changing Public Image in South Korea 295 Indonesia: Politics and Religion in Changing Times 297 The Complexities of Christianity in China 299 Notes 304 Suggestions for Further Reading 305 15 Latin America 307 Description of Region 307 Christian Profile 309 A Complex History of Church, State, and Economy 310 Popular Catholicism: The Importance of Mary 313 Non-Catholic (Evangélico) Christianity 317 Pentecostalism and Catholic Renewal 318 The New Religious Economy in Brazil 319 Holding the Line in Mexico 321 The Caribbean Difference 324 Notes 326 Suggestions for Further Reading 326 16 North America 327 Description of the Region 328 Christian Profile 329 Denominationalism: The Protestant Diversity that Freedom Produced 331 Simplifying Protestant Diversity: Mainline and Evangelical 333 Historically Black Churches 337 The Fuzzy Boundaries of Pentecostalism 340 Catholicism in Transition 342 Orthodoxy in the United States 344 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 346 Notes 347 Suggestions for Further Reading 347 17 Oceania 349 Description of the Region 350 Christian Profile 352 A Complex Conversion History 352 Mapping the Pacific: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia 354 Religion, Ethnicity, and Politics in Fiji 357 Christianity and the Relaxed Spirituality of Australia 359 Notes 365 Suggestions for Further Reading 366 Appendix: Counting Christians 367 Index 369.