A comprehensive guide from the history of colonial missions, through the development of denominations, to the emergence of African initiated churches.
In all its diversity, Christianity has been a powerful force in South African life. From the history of colonial missions, through the development of denominations, to the emergence of African initiated churches, Christianity has assumed a variety of distinctively South African forms. This comprehensive guide offers detailed reviews of over 600 works that have established the importance of Christianity in South African history, society, and religious experience. Of interest to scholars and students of religious studies, cultural anthropology, African Studies, and history, this volume, together with African Traditional Religion in South Africa and Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism in South Africa (both Greenwood, 1997), will become the standard reference work on South African religions.
In each section—Christian Missions, Christian Denominations, and African Initiated Churches—an introductory essay identifies significant themes in the literature. The annotations are concise yet detailed essays, written in an engaging and accessible style and supported by an exhaustive index. The book therefore provides a full and complex profile of Christianity as a religious tradition in South Africa.
Reviews
Unraveling the strands and bonds of religion, culture, and politics in the turbulent history of South Africa comes as second nature to this estimable bibliography. Crisply written and exhaustively researched, this work provides content and contrast illustrating the context for Christianity within South African society....^IChristianty in South Africa^R is appropriate for academic libraries supporting programs in the history of religion of African history and politics (including apartheid).—Reference & User Services Quarterly
