The Changing Demographics of Christianity The Post-Modern Church MNST 7190 Prof. Soong-Chan Rah

Western Christianity “Over the past five centuries or so, the story of Christianity has been inextricably bound up with that of Europe and... North America. Until recently, the overwhelming majority of Christians have lived in White nations, allowing theorists to speak of a... ‘European Christian’ civilization.” The Next Christendom Philip Jenkins

Shift in Global Christianity “Over the past century, however, the center of gravity in the Christian world has shifted inexorably southward to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.... Christianity should enjoy a worldwide boom in the new century, but the vast majority of believers will be neither white nor European, nor Euro-American.” The Next Christendom Philip Jenkins

Global Christianity 1900 statistics: Africa 2% Asia 4% Europe 68% Lat. Am. 11% N. Am. 14% Oceana 1% “White”: 83% “Non-white”: 16% “White”: 40% “Non-white”: 60% “White”: 29% “Non-white”: 71% 2005 statistics: Africa 19% Asia 17% Europe 26% Lat. Am. 24% N. Am. 13% Oceana 1% 2050 statistics: Africa 29% Asia 20% Europe 16% Lat. Am. 22% N. Am. 12% Oceana 1%

The Next Christianity Emerging out of colonialism Emerging out of colonialism –Growth of Christianity in the non-Western world after the departure of the colonialists –A liberated theology –The rise of Pentecostalism Overcoming Western guilt/shame of imperial/colonial missions Overcoming Western guilt/shame of imperial/colonial missions –cf. Lamin Sanneh –translation of Christianity to the local culture Increasing gap between Western and non-Western Christianity Increasing gap between Western and non-Western Christianity –Theological conservatism –Primary cultural system

Western vs. Global Christianity “Perhaps the most remarkable point about these potential conflicts is that the trends pointing towards them have registered so little on the consciousness of even well-informed Northern observers. What, after all, do most Americans know about the distribution of Christians worldwide? I suspect that most see Christianity very much as it was a century ago – a predominantly European and North American faith.” “Perhaps the most remarkable point about these potential conflicts is that the trends pointing towards them have registered so little on the consciousness of even well-informed Northern observers. What, after all, do most Americans know about the distribution of Christians worldwide? I suspect that most see Christianity very much as it was a century ago – a predominantly European and North American faith.”Jenkins

Ephesians Moment (Andrew Walls) Social coming together of two very distinct and separate cultures in Ephesians Social coming together of two very distinct and separate cultures in Ephesians TWO Dangers: TWO Dangers: –Protect one’s own version of Christianity –Every view is valid – retreat into isolation Intersection of Primary and Secondary culture Intersection of Primary and Secondary culture

Shift in American Evangelicalism “The passage of the Immigration Reform Act in 1965 increasingly looks like the most significant single event of that much- balleyhooed decade.” “[The U.S.’s] ethnic character will become less European and less White, with all that implies for religious and cultural patterns.” Jenkins

New Immigrants and Christianity “The new immigrants represent not the de- Christianization of American society but the de- Europeanization of American Christianity.” “The new immigrants represent not the de- Christianization of American society but the de- Europeanization of American Christianity.” “Above all, the new immigrants make it decreasingly plausible for Americans to think of Christianity as a white person’s religion.... And although it may not be apparent in many congregations, American Christians are increasingly people of color.” “Above all, the new immigrants make it decreasingly plausible for Americans to think of Christianity as a white person’s religion.... And although it may not be apparent in many congregations, American Christians are increasingly people of color.” - Stephen Warner

Boston’s Quiet Revival 88 new churches planted in a 10 year time period in the 80’s/90’s 88 new churches planted in a 10 year time period in the 80’s/90’s 50% are Spanish-speaking churches 50% are Spanish-speaking churches 25% are African or African-American churches 25% are African or African-American churches 15% are Asian or Asian-American churches 15% are Asian or Asian-American churches Less than 10% are White churches Less than 10% are White churches 1970: 300 churches / Current estimate: over : 300 churches / Current estimate: over 600 Mostly in the ethnic, immigrant communities Mostly in the ethnic, immigrant communities Over half of those churches hold services in a language other than English Over half of those churches hold services in a language other than English

Post-modernity and Immigration Integration of Primary and Secondary Culture Integration of Primary and Secondary Culture Spiritual renewal/fervency (Pentecostalism) Spiritual renewal/fervency (Pentecostalism) Theological orthodoxy and conservatism Theological orthodoxy and conservatism Missionary effort Missionary effort