“World Christianity ”: Its Implications for History,
Religious Studies, and Theology
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Student Services Center Multipurpose Room
UC San Diego campus
Peter C. Phan
The Lecture:
In recent years there has emerged the concept of “World Christianity,” that is, Christianity not as a religion of the West but as a world or global religion. Since the 20th century there has been a massive shift of the Christian population from the Global North (Europe and North America) to the Global South (Africa, Asia and South America). The lecture first traces the development and major features of this new face of Christianity, or better, Christianities (in the plural). Next it unfolds the implications of this reality of “world Christianity” for the teaching of Christianity as a religion in religious studies. Lastly it outlines a theology of “church” (ecclesiology) that is more responsive to this emerging reality of global Christianity. In treating these three themes the lecture will draw on the history of Christianities in Asia for illustrations.
|
 |
The Lecturer:
Peter C. Phan, a Vietnamese American, is the inaugural holder of the Ignacio Ellacuría Chair of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown University. He holds three earned doctorates and two honorary doctorates.
Of his many publications the most relevant to the theme of the lecture are: Christianity with an Asian Face; In Our Own Tongues; Being Religious Interreligiously; and Christianities in Asia.
