The Encyclopedia of Christianity

by Erwin Fahlbusch and E. Fahlbusch

The Encyclopedia of Christianity is the first of a five-volume English translation of the third revised edition of Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon. Its German articles have been tailored to suit an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802824137
• ISBN13: 9780802824134
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 5 Pages
• Weight: 4.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 3.0" x 8.7" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

From Eerdmans

This encyclopedia is a monumental reference work that addresses the broad interest in Christianity and religion around the world today. Comprehensive, up to date, reflecting the highest standards in scholarship yet intended for a wide range of readers, it describes the Christian faith and community in their myriad forms today and throughout the 2,000 years of Christian history. It also looks outward beyond Christianity, considering other world religions and philosophies as it paints the overall religious and socio-cultural picture in which the Christian church now finds itself in the new millennium. Written by leading scholars from many countries and cultural backgrounds, the more than 1,700 articles depict Christianity in its global context. Separate articles for every continent and for over 170 countries examine both the history and the current situation of the Christian faith worldwide. The book portrays Christianity in its widest ecumenical context. Major articles detail Christianity's rich spiritual and theological diversity in order to inform readers about religious traditions and perspectives beyond their own ecclesiastical frameworks. In its portrayal of Christianity, this encyclopedia also takes into account the current socio-cultural context, including other world religions, secular philosophies, cultural trends, and modern political and economic forces. Covering such current topics as abortion, atheism, Islam, modernity, and psychoanalysis, these articles describe the multifarious settings in which the Christian church today must maintain a credible witness to the ancient gospel. Finally, the encyclopedia presents Christianity in its rich historical context, starting with the biblical tradition and showing how the apostolic tradition developed and how the church has sought throughout history to keep faith with its traditions while engaging the world around it. Volume 4 contains 299 articles constituting the alphabetical entries P-Sh-articles on significant topics ranging from Paul, process theology, and the Qur'an to religious liberty, salvation history, and scholasticism. Like each volume in the complete encyclopedia, this book incorporates many enhancements of and additions to the third revised edition of the German Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon: Internationale theologische Enzyklopädie, on which this encyclopedia is based. Among the features of this English work are the following: · articles on all but the smallest countries of the world, including former communist states that have gained their independence since 1989; · the latest, best statistical information, compiled by David B. Barrett, on the religious affiliation and ecclesiastical breakdown of each country and continent; · the addition of over seventy biographical articles on prominent figures throughout church history; and · many expanded or entirely new articles that address topics of particular interest to English-speaking readers. Unparalleled in scholarship and breadth

A geat reference tool for pastors and lay persons who pastor

Every pastor and every lay person actively involved in the pastoral care of others in the life of the church should have this book on their near shelf for easy reference. It is an excellent resource - I especially enjoyed the variety of articles, some long and some short. Wide ranging topics - from "psychodrama" to "alcoholism", from "spiritual direction" to "retirement", it seems that nothing is left out. All articles appear to be well researched from a variety of fields, giving the reader a sense of the deep reliability and relevance of this truly interdisciplinary project. Useful!!!

Not just for academics

I'm a parish pastor, and spending over a hundred dollars for one reference book better be worth it. It is. Volume One contains 465 articles (alphabetically from A-D). Topics of current interest include "Abortion" and "Abortion Counseling" and "Black Churches." Information on most of the world's countries and the latest statistics are at my fingertips. Although the encyclopedia is based upon a massive German publication, this edition is written in American English. In my opinion, many of the articles would be useful for high school students and Sunday School teachers. I'm going to put Vol. 2 on my next Christmas "wish" list.