Whose Religion is Christianity: The Gospel beyond the West begins with a brief over of Christianity, defines terms, and proceeds into a conversational writing style of a Q&A pattern to discuss a broad spectrum of topics, and closes discussion with bible translation to address issues associated with translation. Christianity is expanding and has a hopeful future. World Christianity did not have a positive future in the start of the 19th century. Muslims outnumbered Christians 4:1, and had a higher conversion rate. By the late 19th century, Christianity increased at a surprising rate particularly the continent of Africa. Colonial rule largely ended by this time; many expected Christianity to decrease, but it continued to grow (Sanneh). After
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The leading Christian influence has begun to change from colonial Christendom to a World Christianity amidst pluralism in Africa. The oppressed and marginalized of Africa became the cultural leaders, and they began to challenge white supremacy, initiate reconciliation, and offer forgiveness. The prominence it gained brought into questions their “Models of Faith and Community” (Sanneh, 40). The indigenous adoption is what helped the faith progress through conversion despite some calling it syncretism. These can be challenging for westerners to view and understand when Christianity has to be flexible for it to cross cultures …show more content…
Many consider the mass translation of the bible as a weakness. Other religions such as Islam believes it is vital to keep the integrity of scripture by not translating it, and mandating that the only pure form of sacred texts must be in the original language. While this perspective is easily understood, the message of Christ is all inclusive and intended to reach the world rather than just those who can learn the original language of an era hundreds or thousands of years ago. At times, religious leaders forbid the bible to be translated, but the laws were to maintain control of the religion rather than to uphold the accuracy of the scriptures. Translation is complex because it wants to uphold the integrity of the original text, but sometime needs to be contextualized to a new culture then retranslated periodically as language evolves
The leading Christian influence has begun to change from colonial Christendom to a World Christianity amidst pluralism in Africa. The oppressed and marginalized of Africa became the cultural leaders, and they began to challenge white supremacy, initiate reconciliation, and offer forgiveness. The prominence it gained brought into questions their “Models of Faith and Community” (Sanneh, 40). The indigenous adoption is what helped the faith progress through conversion despite some calling it syncretism. These can be challenging for westerners to view and understand when Christianity has to be flexible for it to cross cultures …show more content…
Many consider the mass translation of the bible as a weakness. Other religions such as Islam believes it is vital to keep the integrity of scripture by not translating it, and mandating that the only pure form of sacred texts must be in the original language. While this perspective is easily understood, the message of Christ is all inclusive and intended to reach the world rather than just those who can learn the original language of an era hundreds or thousands of years ago. At times, religious leaders forbid the bible to be translated, but the laws were to maintain control of the religion rather than to uphold the accuracy of the scriptures. Translation is complex because it wants to uphold the integrity of the original text, but sometime needs to be contextualized to a new culture then retranslated periodically as language evolves