A history of Christian conversion / David W. Kling.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kling, David W., 1950- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Conversion--Christianity--History.

Conversion.

Christian converts--History.

Christian converts.

Church history.

History.

Conversion--Christianity.

Physical Description:

pages cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, [2020]

Summary:

"Conversion has played a central role in the history of Christianity. In this first in-depth and wide-ranging narrative history, David W. Kling examines the dynamic of individuals, families, and people groups who turn to the Christian faith. Global in reach, this book progresses from early Christian beginnings in the Roman world to Christianity's expansion into Europe, the Americas, China, India, and Africa. Although conversion is often associated with a particular strand of modern Christianity (evangelical) and a particular type of experience (sudden, overwhelming), it is, when examined over two millennia, a phenomenon far more complex than any one-dimensional profile would suggest. No single, unitary paradigm defines conversion, and no easily demonstrable process accounts for why people convert to Christianity. Rather, a multiplicity of factors-historical, personal, social, geographical, theological, psychological, and cultural-shape the converting process. A History of Christian Conversion not only narrates the conversions of select individuals and peoples. It also engages current theories and models to explain conversion and examines recurring themes in the converting process: gender, agency, motivation, testimony, coercion, self-identity, "true" conversion, music, communication, the body, and divine presence. Accessible to scholars, students, and those with a general interest in conversion, Kling's book is, to date, the most satisfying and comprehensive account of conversion in Christian history; this major work will become a standard must-read in conversion studies"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 Introduction: An Anatomy of Conversion p. 1

I The Roman World

2 The New Testament (50-100) p. 27

3 The Early Church through Constantine (100-337) p. 53

4 The Western Imperial Church and Beyond (312-500) p. 78

II Medieval Europe

5 Late Antiquity and Early Medieval Europe (500-1000) p. 103

6 Rulers, Missionaries, Popes, and Patriarchs (400-1200) p. 127

7 Conversion by Coercion: Jews and Pagans (400-1500) p. 151

8 Interior Conversion: Monks, Mendicants, and Mystics (1050-1500) p. 174

III Early Modern Europe

9 Protestants and Continental Reformers (1517-1600) p. 203

10 European Catholicism (1500-1700) p. 233

11 English Protestantism (1520-1700) p. 260

12 The Rise of Evangelicalism (1675-1750) p. 289

IV The Americas

13 Catholics in Colonial America (1500-1700) p. 325

14 Puritans and the Great Awakening in America (1630-1790) p. 356

15 American Evangelicalism in Black and White (1750-Present) p. 378

16 Protestants and Pentecostals in Latin America (1900-Present) p. 410

V China

17 The Church of the East and the First Catholic Missions (63 5-1840) p. 443

18 Protestant Entrance and Christian Expansion (1840-1950) p. 468

19 Independent Protestant Movements (1930-Present) p. 494

VI India

20 Upper-Caste Conversions (1500-1900) p. 517

21 Lower-Caste Conversions (1530-Present) p. 550

VII Africa

22 The Age of the Prophets (1900-1930) p. 581

23 The East African Revival (1930-2000) p. 605

24 Catholic East and Pentecostal West (1800-Present) p. 633.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Kling, David W., A history of Christian conversion

ISBN:

9780195320923

0195320921

OCLC:

1142894497

Publisher Number:

99984764160