Globalizing Theology: Belief and Practice in an Era of World Christianity »

Craig Ott (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is associate professor of mission at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and occupies the Evangelical Free Church International Mission Chair.

Harold A. Netland (PhD, Claremont Graduate University) is professor of philosophy of religion and intercultural studies and the Naomi A. Fausch Chair of Missions at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of Encountering Religious Pluralism and Dissonant Voices.

One of the most powerful forces in the twenty-first century is the increasing phenomenon of globalization. In nearly every realm of human activity, traditional boundaries are disappearing and people worldwide are more interconnected than ever. Christianity has also become more aware of global realities and the important role of the church in non-Western countries. Church leaders must grapple with the implications for theology and ministry in an ever-shrinking world.

Globalizing Theology is a groundbreaking book that addresses these issues of vital importance to the church. It contains articles from leading scholars, including Tite Tiénou, Kevin Vanhoozer, Charles Van Engen, M. Daniel Carroll R., Andrew Walls, Vinoth Ramachandra, and Paul Hiebert. Topics covered include the challenges that globalization brings to theology, how we can incorporate global perspectives into our thinking, and the effect a more global theology has on a variety of important issues.

Library Journal

The concept of globalization takes on a particularly significant and expressive role when coupled with a term like theology. This work of tempered historiography and historical missiology approaches the questions, attitudes, concerns, and methods of the present generation of Evangelicals within the framework of scholarly discourse. Ott and Netland, professors of mission and the philosophy of religion and intercultural studies, respectively, at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois, serve as editors of a three-part text: "World Christianity and Theological Reflection," "Methodological Issues for Globalizing Theology," and "Implications of Global Theology." Each part contains distinctive contributions to the field of missiology and probes both the broad and the specific areas of inquiry in various contexts. There is a continued focus on the dynamic connection between "global" and "local" awareness and action, with one contributor citing the fairly new term glocal as the interweaving of necessary entities. This well-crafted book will be useful in theological schools with an interest in missiological discussions; recommended.-Anthony J. Elia, JKM Theological Lib., Chicago Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.