01. Christianity: The Future
Dr. Alister McGrath discusses the future of Christianity worldwide over the next few decades and the explosive growth in the Southern shift. He considers the effects of globalization on the world in general and Christianity in particular. He outlines the major constituents of Christianity (Roman Catholicism, Pentecostalism, Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism) and each constituent’s unique challenges and possibilities. He also discusses the future of academic theology, its disconnect to everyday life, and the need for organic theologians. He closes with the future of atheism and the challenges postmodernity brings to it.
Tags: sociology, the Southern Shift, non-Western Christianity, the two-thirds world, denominationalism
02. Q&A
In this interactive dialogue, Dr. David Cook questions Dr. Alister McGrath on the future of Christianity in the Southern hemisphere, Western traditions, the localization of Christianity, the power of globalization, human nature, and essential Christianity. They also discuss the ordination of women, Pentecostal sign gifts, Evangelical conversion to Eastern Orthodox, proper contextualization, the future of academic theology, cultivating organic theologians, and the future of atheism. Towards the end they take questions from the audience concerning the marginalization of Christianity and division in Christianity.
Tags: sociology, the Southern Shift, non-Western Christianity, the two-thirds world, denominationalism, orthodox doctrine, Christian education, ecclesiology