Robert L. Jr. Montgomery

The Lopsided Spread of Christianity

Toward an Understanding of the Diffusion of Religions

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Comparing the spread of Christianity to the East to its more successful spread to the West, Montgomery illustrates the uneven diffusion of one of the world's most influential and successful religions. Through his sociological analysis, the author examines the causes for Christianity's success to the West and its relative failings in major societies to the east of Jerusalem, including India, Persia, and China. Applying five variables, including Christianity's missionary orientation, geography, intersocietal relations, sociocultural structures, and individual perceptions, Montgomery provides a theory of the diffusion of religion in general, and of Christianity in particular. Beginning by laying out the variables he will apply to the study, Montgomery carefully explains his approach, introducing the reader to this unique field of study. He then moves on to examine Christianity's earliest spread to areas east of Jerusalem. An examination of the rise of Islam in the East precedes a comparative analysis of the success of Christianity in its spread to the West to its relative failure to spread to the East. He concludes with a discussion of religious pluralism. Groundbreaking in its attempt to establish a better understanding of religious diffusion, this work will be indispensable to those interested in the study of sociology of religions, religious studies, missionary studies, and Christianity.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Praeger
• Seitenzahl: 208
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. Oktober 2001
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 157mm x 17mm
• Gewicht: 498g
• ISBN-13: 9780275973612
• ISBN-10: 0275973611
• Artikelnr.: 21364365

Autorenporträt

ROBERT L. MONTGOMERY is a retired missionary and minister./e After serving as a Presbyterian missionary in Taiwan for 16 years, he divided his time between the ministry and academia. Since retirement in 1994, he has concentrated on writing.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface Introduction Between the Empires The Nearest Empire to the East The
Great Civilization of South Asia Central Asia and China The Rise of a New
Order A Comparative Analysis Religious Pluralism: Past, Present, and Future
Appendix: Social Scientific Concepts and Theories and the Spread of
Religions References Index