Brief (Reading) Report: The Future of Christianity

In my list of reading from the winter (summer up North) of 2009 was Alister E. McGrath’s The Future of Christianity-Blackwell Manifesto (Blackwell Publishers-2002).  McGrath is a theologian writing from the U.K. Church of England tradition and well known for accessible writing on theological topics.  He is somewhat unique in that he has an advanced degree in molecular biophysics as well as a Doc. Divinity from Oxford.
    Now somewhat dated from 2002, the work is nevertheless on the mark.  Since 2002 there have been a number of other works indicating the global shift of Christianity from its north European/United States center to the global south. 
    I certainly can recommend the book as it is a short read and certainly not a tome exclusively written to theologians. It is somewhat poignant in that the Church of England / Anglican Church is in steep decline in the “Western” world yet growing vigorously, according to some, in the global south. If you have been following the saga of the Anglicans in 2009 you know that it is in a period of considerable change around the world.  His pick of “winners” for the 21st century: Roman Catholicism, Pentecostalism, Evangelicalism and Eastern Orthodoxy. This largely on demographics. My own research and observation in South America is that the Catholic church continues in decline, probably due to the ever-declining / ever-aging priesthood and the ravages of secularism.  Also we continue to see the proliferation of Pentecostal and Evangelical churches many times at the expense of the Catholics.  And if you see an Eastern Orthodox in Bolivia (not a tourist), let me know.