Projects

This monograph is the result of a close and creative collaboration between the two authors, with Benno van den Toren as project leader and Klaas Bom as co-leader and principle investigator. Benno wrote chapter 1 and the first part of chapter 2 and made a robust contribution to the section ‘Christianity in Africa’ in chapter 3. Klaas wrote the second part of chapter 2 and chapters 3, 4, 5 and 7. Chapter 6 involved the most intensive co-writing, with a first layer by Benno, further elaboration by Klaas, and a final arrangement by Benno. As a result of this collaboration an attentive reader will be aware of some differences in the style and vocabulary in the chapters. However, we accept joint responsibility of the project as a whole and of the outcomes and conclusions. We decided to integrate substantial number of original interventions made by the participants in the footnotes. In these texts, which are transcriptions made by local students, we deliberately maintained the strong local flavour. 

Led by Dorottya Nagy and Martha Frederiks, professor of the Study of World Christianity at Utrecht University. “This selection of texts introduces students and researchers to the multi- and interdisciplinary field of mission history. It apprises them with current discussions, insights and theories. The four parts of this book acquaint the readers with methodological considerations and recurring themes in the academic study of the history of mission. Part one revolves around methods, part two documents approaches, while parts three and four consist of thematic clusters, such as mission and language, medical mission, mission and education, women and mission, mission and politics, and mission and art. The text-selection represents a wide variety of disciplines, authors and backgrounds. The texts were chosen because they address the complexities involved in studying the history of Christian mission. Critical Readings in the History of Christian Mission is suitable for course-work and other educational purposes.” 

Led by Dorottya Nagy and Martha Frederiks, professor of the Study of World Christianity at Utrecht University. “World Christianity: Methodological Considerations addresses this lacuna and explores the methodological ramifications of the World Christianity turn. In twelve chapters scholars from various academic backgrounds (anthropology, religious studies, history, missiology, intercultural studies, theology, and patristics) as well as of multiple cultural and national belongings investigate methodological issues (e.g. methods, use of sources, choosing a unit of analysis, terminology, conceptual categories,) relevant to World Christianity debates. In a closing chapter the editors Frederiks and Nagy converge the findings and sketch the outlines of what they coin as a ‘World Christianity approach’, a multidisciplinary and multiple perspective approach to study Christianity/ies’ plurality and diversity in past and present.” 

Led by Doorttya Nagy and Gé Speelman, assistant professor in Religious Studies at the PThU. Conversion and Transformation are at the heart of the proclamation of the Good News. What happens within individuals and between people when they convert to Christianity? Recent scholarship has used theories and methods from psychological and sociological sciences to shed light on the possible trajectories of religious conversion. The proposed book aims to bring together conceptual and empirical chapters that explore the psychological and social pathways to interreligious conversion to Christianity. With ‘interreligious conversion’ we mean an individual or collective transformation that results in a change of allegiance from a non-Christian or non-religious orientation to a Christian orientation.

Led by Dorottya Nagy and John Flett, professor of missiology and intercultural theology at Pilgrim Theological College, Melbourne, Australia. This book project invites international experts, representing different generations and methodologies, to provide a full and fresh oversight on intercultural theology/missiology within their field of expertise. The aim is to develop the reference work scholars in the field turn to first, and one which will contribute to improving the quality of theological research, education and formation worldwide.