Sell Back Your Copy
For a $1.15 Gift Card
Trade in
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
A Dictionary of Asian Christianity
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

A Dictionary of Asian Christianity [Hardcover]

Scott W. Sunquist (Editor), David Wu Chu Sing (Editor), John Chew Hiang Chea (Editor)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)


Available from these sellers.



Book Description

May 2001
This superb dictionary is the first basic reference work for the study of Asian Christianity in the past and at present. Describing Christianity in the region from Pakistan to Japan and from Mongolia to Indonesia, this volume's 1,260 signed articles include biographies of important Asian church leaders as well as reliable, up-to-date information on the political, cultural, and religious movements that have shaped the Christian faith in this part of the world.

Uniquely capturing the 2,000-year history of Christianity in Asia, this work shows how Christianity has impacted Asian cultures as well as how those cultures have in turn shaped Christianity. Written by nearly 500 Asian scholars from 18 Asian countries and by those whose primary work has been in Asia, the articles gathered here directly reflect the perspectives of Asians living in the region — often as part of minority communities.

The full sweep of Christianity is explored, including its consequential encounters with Asian political movements, cultural practices, and indigenous religions. Some of the articles identify the important role of particular leaders, both Christian and non-Christian, while other articles examine large-scale developments in Asian Christianity during the past two millennia. Maps, cross-references, and bibliographies enhance the usefulness of the volume.

In a time when the Christian faith is being transformed by the vitality of non-Western Christian movements, and as new forms of ecumenical cooperation are emerging, the Dictionary of Asian Christianity provides the single best point of reference for understanding Asia's contribution to global Christianity.


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although Christianity has been present in Asia for two millennia, it is currently experiencing a period of lightning-quick growth. For the first time, a one-volume reference chronicles the history of Asian Christianity, profiles its major leaders and dissects its various movements and denominations. In A Dictionary of Asian Christianity, editor Scott Sunquist includes entries on political events (e.g., the Korean and Vietnam Wars) and also discusses how Christianity has existed side-by-side with indigenous Asian religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. The entries are marvelously thorough for a dictionary, and well-written. (Eerdmans, $75 1024p ISBN 0-8028-3776-X; June)

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A reference work on Asian Christianity is definitely needed, and this one, though highly problematic (and primarily concerned with East and South Asia, excluding Russia) may temporarily fill the gap. The dictionary contains over 1200 signed articles, which include biographies of important Asian church leaders, information on political, cultural, and religious movements in Christianity in this part of the world, and overviews of important doctrinal concerns to Asian Christians. Sunquist (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) has borrowed heavily from the Japanese-language Historical Dictionary of Christianity in Japan, leading to oddities, such as an article on "Hymns (Sambika), Japan" but no articles on hymnody in any other Asian country. Further, the editor's Protestant evangelical view at times conflicts with objectivity and clarity, and the book lacks overall logic. An article on "Cults" does not define the term, covers only Japan and Vietnam, and highlights Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Unification Church, all of which should have been given separate entries. The article on the Khmer Rouge should have indicated their impact on the Christians of Cambodia but contains no mention of Christianity, and the article on Baha'i contains a few misconceptions and deals only with Baha'is in India, although the religion also has large communities in other countries covered by the dictionary. As a result, this dictionary will be partially useful for academic and large public libraries where Asia and Christian religion are of interest, but Eerdmans's The Encyclopedia of Christianity (LJ 2/15/99, Vol. 1), when completed, should provide better overall coverage. William P. Collins, Library of Congress
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 989 pages
  • Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; 1St Edition edition (May 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 080283776X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0802837769
  • Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.9 x 2.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,888,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:    (0)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Three Cheers for DAC!, November 22, 2001
This review is from: A Dictionary of Asian Christianity (Hardcover)
DAC is a welcome publication which will open new vistas for Asian and non-Asian readers.

Some 1260 articles cover the past story and present shape of Christianity from Pakistan east to the Pacific (with some material on west Asia in early centuries. A wide collection of contributors was assembled, with Asian writers supplying artiucles on areas of specifc interest as well as contributing, editorially, to the shape of the whole volume.

Articles cover significant features relating to Christianity as well as to its historical, political, econonomic, social and religious context. This scope makes DAC valuable beyond immediate interests of browsing or researching in the Christian story.

As might be expected in a first attempt at such a vast task, there are some problems. As a matter of definition,Protestant missionary societies, significant individual churches, theological colleges and other educational institutions are purposefully excluded. This produces some odd results - for example there is no separate article on the China Inland Mission (later to become OMF)which has been and remains, an important contributor to Protestant work in Asia. Some articles are of uneven quality - doubtless due to a paucity of sources and difficulty in finding contributors.

These are significant problems and affect the comprehesiveness and reliability of DAC. To some extent, they define the best use of this work as a tool for further reading and research rather than as a a normative standard.

Nevertheless, the significance of the publication and its value, should be noted. Put simply, there is nothing like it on the market and it opens up material that may otherwise remain hidden in local knowledge and lost over time.

DAC is a wonderful step in documenting the story of Asian Christianity and is a timely publication in what has been dubbed 'the Asian century'.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
calendrical bureau, nha chua, first apostolic vicar, heiwa undo, leprosy work, apostolic prefecture, apostolic diocese, apostolic vicariate, dynastie sassanide, perse sous, first woman missionary, first resident missionaries, rural evangelism, evangelistic band, apostolic vicars, ashram movement, indigenous congregations, suffragan dioceses, quo singulari, medical missionary work, prefect apostolic, appointed vicar apostolic, hymnal committee, vicariate apostolic, vice province
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Hong Kong, World War, Sri Lanka, Roman Catholic, New Testament, South India, Jesus Christ, New York, Holy Spirit, Society of Jesus, Chiang Mai, Old Testament, World Council of Churches, American Baptist, Brahmo Samaj, Cochin China, North Korea, Methodist Episcopal Church, Korean War, London Missionary Society, North India, Chinese Christians, Propaganda Fide, Missionary Alliance
New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:




What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject