A Thousand Little Stories? World Christianity in a Polycentric Perspective (2024)

About the Publication

Birgit Emich, "A Thousand Little Stories? World Christianity in a Polycentric Perspective", in: Early South-South Links in the History of World Christianity (16th–Early 19th Century) (Studien zur Außereuropäischen Christentumsgeschichte/ Studies in the History of Christianity in the Non-Western World [= StAECG] Vol. 34), edited by Ciprian Burlacioiu, Klaus Koschorke, and Philipp Kuster, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2024.

It was by no means only Western missionaries who brought Christianity to the countries of the Global South. In various places they encountered old Christian churches which had been already existing such as in India and Ethiopia. In other places, voluntary or forced migration and indigenous Christian initiatives also led to an independent expansion and the formation of transregional networks at an early stage. This resulted in various exchange relationships between different areas of the expanding Christian world, which were carried out by local representatives.
The volume contains the contributions of an international conference held in 2023, which discussed early examples of such South-South connections between the 16th and early 19th century. It not only provides important insights for a polycentric approach to the history of World Christianity, it also offers new perspectives on diverse discourses regarding the history of globalization and transcontinental religious entanglements.