Church

Face of Christianity will soon be black, says scholar

Christianity has long been stereotyped as a Western, white man's religion, but a prominent theologian believes that image will soon drastically change.

"The new face of Christianity will be the black woman," said Dr Kwok Pui Lan to an audience at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Kwok, a professor at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a pioneer in Asian feminist theology as well as postcolonial theology.

Kwok explained that as of last year, Europe still had the largest number of Christians in the world - 532 million. It is followed by Latin America with 525 million and then Africa at 417 million.

But by 2025, Africa is projected to shoot up to 634.6 million Christians, followed closely by Latin America at 634.1 million, while Europe will fall to 531 million Christians.

The United States had 223 million Christians mid-2007 and is predicted to grow slightly to 252 million by 2025.

"The challenge is to re-imagine Christianity in the 21st century," said Kwok, who is the William F Cole professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality at the Episcopal Divinity School.

In 1900, over 80 per cent of all Christians were from Europe and North America, but by 2005 the number was under 45 per cent, observed Dr Todd Johnson, director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, in his 2006 report entitled USA evangelicals/Evangelicals in a Global Context.

Johnson had noted that the number correlated with new data that revealed a southern shift in Christianity away from the UK and US.

Offering an explanation for Christianity's boom in Africa, the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia - the first African General Secretary of the World Council of Churches - said late last year that Christianity is not seen as a "part-time" occupation in Africa in comparison to the US, but rather "permeates the whole life".

"Christianity in Africa, sub-Saharan Africa especially, is seen not only as a religion, but this is the opportunity of people to contribute to national building, to peace and reconciliation, to development," said Kobia at Washington National Cathedral in December. "Therefore the church becomes the center of activity."

Besides discussing Christianity's southern shift, Episcopal Divinity's Kwok also explored the post-colonial world after World War II, when many colonies became independent.

In her lecture entitled "Globalization and the Challenge to Christianity", Kwok contended that globalisation provides opportunities to advance religion, and religion can offer societies a common value system such as human rights. But globalisation also presents obstacles to religion, including a counter movement that resorts to violence to retain their beliefs and identities.

Kwok was the guest speaker at The William Daniel Cobb II Lectures at Lexington Theological Seminary. The special lecture began in 1990 in memory of the seminary's 12th president, inviting a distinguished speaker on theology to the seminary each year.

Added: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 12:32 (BST)

Hello Sir,
Greetings from India.
I have great delight in hearing this wonderful news because as a black Indian Christian, fighting aganist the partiality and discrimination aganist the Dalit(black)christians in India.
I would like to write the real face of the Indian church.
with love & prayer
Yesunatha Das

REV.J.YESUNATHA DAS, New Delhi , India

Added: Saturday, March 29, 2008, 18:07 (GMT)

To whom it may concern: I wanted to add that the black man hung onto the faith in Jesus Christ since the days of slavery during the time of the Civil War. Christianity is not new for the black man nor been in low stats either. There not a battle to see if black or white will rule the Kingdom of Christianity. All man who confess Jesus Christ is Lord is saved and are equal no matter the color. Only man is color blind seeing only what he wants to see...Think about it and publish for me an article of apology for misleading Christians and non-Christians on such bogus information. MOM/The Rose

the rose, whitetown, usa

Added: Saturday, March 29, 2008, 18:03 (GMT)

To whom it may concern: I must say, that I did not even get past the first line of this article before I said to myself this is wrong. The first line is grieviously in error. Once a person enters Christianity we are no longer black or white, male or female, jew or greek, free or slave. We are all one adopted through the blood of Jesus Christ which makes us all the same in the eyes of God and of the church of Jesus Christ. Man looks on the outside and determines with earthly eyes for motives such as self gain and profit. I am very disappointed with just the first line of this article which is misleading just off the bat that I am even considering discontinuing my subscribtion to Christian Today. If Christian Today is not more cautious about publishing articles that lean to misleading readers, I rather not have my eyes nor mind filtered with such misinformation. If Christian Today seeking to build the Kingdom of Jesus Christ or plant seeds of separation and divison....Which side of the fence are you on.....with sincere respect and boldness through Gods Holy Spirit.....the rose

the rose, whitetown, usa

Added: Saturday, March 29, 2008, 14:55 (GMT)

Dear Sirs:

Thank you for this article.

I have a few comments.

First, Jesus is honored and glorified when His church does not define itself in terms of race. Rather, as in Acts 6 and other places, when people of various races intermingle and struggle together to overcome problems according to the Bible, He is glorified and honored. This, by the way, is in direct contradistinction to the racism of the former "pastor" of one of the presidential candidates in the USA.

Second, the phrase "feminist theology" is a paradox, and is in no way Biblical. As with the problem noted in the previous paragraph, such a view tends to separate the very people whom Jesus desired to unite for his glory as a testimony of His having been sent by the Father to the watching world.

Let us jetison this unbiblical baggage, and be the church Christ requires.

Thank you for reading this.

Sincerely in Christ,

Paul Griffin

Paul Griffin, Rocky Face, GA, USA

• Baptist president calls for greater unity among evangelicals
• No end to 'misery' in Congo, warns aid agency
• Church Army making Jesus famous
• Christian Institute concerned over new atheist summer camp
• Church planting brings church leaders together

No end to 'misery' in Congo, warns aid agency

The people of Congo face hunger and disease as fighting continues between the government and rebel forces.

Enrich your love life, marriage and relationships through education and counselling. Train to become a certified marriage and family educator and change lives for good.