The world’s Christians: Who they are, where they are, and how they got there

Wiley-Blackwell, 2011

RRP $39.95

By Karyl Davison.

This book reminds us that the contours of Christianity around the world are complex and enormously diverse. Christians are members of thousands of different churches, speak hundreds if not thousands of different languages and are present in almost every country across the globe.

Douglas Jacobsen, Professor of Church History and Theology at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, has mapped this expansive terrain and provided a comprehensive account of Christianity today.

The first part of The World's Christians focuses on the four major contemporary traditions: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Charismatic/Pentecostal. The general experience, beliefs, worship traditions and institutional structure of each tradition is outlined.

Part two is organised geographically according to where most Christians live. As each region is explored, it becomes clear just how diverse and dispersed the Christian movement has become.

The final part explores how groups of Christians come to be in a particular part of the world, and what shaped their practice of the faith.