history of African Christianity, 1950-1975, A
Book Description
This comprehensive study illuminates one of Christianity's most dynamic periods of transformation across sub-Saharan Africa. Adrian Hastings chronicles the remarkable journey of African churches from 1950 to 1975, capturing a pivotal era when Christianity evolved from tightly controlled missionary territories into vibrant, self-governing communities with nearly one hundred million members.
The narrative begins in 1950, when African churches remained largely embedded within colonial structures, closely supervised by established missionary societies both Catholic and Protestant. Hastings traces their evolution through the tumultuous decades that followed, documenting how these religious communities navigated the waves of political independence and social upheaval that swept across the continent during the 1960s and early 1970s.
Readers will discover how African Christianity emerged in bewildering variety, developing unique expressions of faith that reflected local cultures while maintaining connections to the broader global church. The author reveals how these transformed religious communities gained not only numerical strength but also significant influence within their own societies and the worldwide Christian community.
This historical exploration offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual movements adapt, grow, and find authentic expression within changing social and political landscapes. The book demonstrates how faith communities can maintain their core identity while embracing necessary transformation and achieving genuine self-determination.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Christianity
📄 Length: 336 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christendom
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Discours, essais, conférences
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Christianity -- Africa -- Addresses, essays, lectures
- ✓ Explore Religion and religious life
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Christians, africa
