The Christian Century

A century ago, a period of stunning Christian growth began. Africa's independent churches claim John Chilembwe as a symbol of a new native Christianity, free from its paternalistic and missionary roots.

Many scholars have traced the intra-Christian conflicts over slavery. Less noticed are the situations in which Christians were themselves enslaved.

Historically, the region from the Danube to the Euphrates and from Belgrade to Baghdad is religiously complex. Our modern map is a product of decades of violence and ethnic cleansing.

Like it or not, the world’s religious landscape owes much to the long history of European imperialism. But the story of empire and missions is more complex than we might assume.

In January, Pope Francis will visit the Philippines. By 2050, there could be 100 million Catholics there.

Cinema has long been a critical medium for exploring religious themes in mainstream culture. Today, filmmakers continue to find a distinctive religious voice.

The story of Pentecostalism and social change is now familiar. What's surprising is how closely it echoes trends in modern Islam.

Cuba possesses the conditions often cited to explain Pentecostal growth: rapid social change, economic turmoil, and excluded ethnic groups.

Anastasios is first and foremost a scholar. Yet it's hard to imagine any religious leader accomplishing so much practical good so quickly.

In Catholic Europe, Romani have long been faithful Catholics. They are devoted to the dark-skinned St. Sarah, believed to be a companion of the biblical Three Marys.

Every Sunday, more people attend Assemblies of God churches in the Sao Paulo area than in all the U.S.

I once presented Africa as a region of extreme poverty, but we now have to take account of economic development. We can only begin to outline the religious consequences.

Any account of Asian Christianity must deal with minority peoples. One large and diverse region has more than 100 million people—many of them Christian.

As we remember the Reformation over the next couple of years, we should also recall its global context.

In religious terms, the emerging South Africa looks at once thoroughly African and surprisingly European.