TWU professor Dr. Bob Burkinshaw

It might be surprising to learn that more than 60 per cent of Christians in the world today are not Europeans or North Americans, but Africans, Asians and Latin Americans.

 
For some, accepting that the majority of the world’s Christians are more likely to be people with darker skin and from poor nations rather than stereotypical white folks in rich western nations, can be somewhat difficult.

Is this a major shift in the very nature of Christianity itself, or is it the renewal of what is in reality a non-western religion?

These questions will be explored as Trinity Western University’s Masters in Interdisciplinary Humanities program hosts a controversial series of public lectures exploring the nature and growth of non-western Christianity. Taking place from January through March, the lectures are part of the course “History of non-western Christianity,” taught by Abbotsford resident and TWU professor Dr. Bob Burkinshaw.

Says Burkinshaw: “The lecture series offers an opportunity to confront the reality of Christianity as it appears today in our modern world. 

Who are calling themselves Christians today and what does this tell us about the nature of Christianity? Things have dramatically changed since the mid-20th century.

Old stereotypes no longer work and it’s important to allow a forum for this discussion to occur.”  

“Many historians argue that what we are seeing is primarily a return to the non-western basis of Christianity,” continues Burkinshaw. “Before 1400 A.D., Christianity was more based in Asia and Africa, and then from the 1400’s to the mid-1900’s, Europe (and later North America) became the dominant heartland of Christianity. But explosive growth throughout the twentieth century shifted the balance back to non-western nations.”

Experts at the seminars will speak on topics including Islam and Christian relations in the medieval period, Christian minorities in the Middle East, Christianity in China, Christianity in several regions of Africa, and the ‘explosion’ of Pentecostalism in Latin America.

The first lecture taking place is on January 31st and features Dr. Gordon Nickel of ACTS Seminary, whose presentation is entitled, “Authentic Engagement: Christians Meet the Muslim Conquerors. Christianity and Islam, 8th to 12th Centuries.”

More information on the lecture series exploring the nature and growth of non-western Christianity can be found by visiting www.twu.ca/academics/graduate/humanities.