Colonialism, globalization and consumerism have devastated large parts of our world. For the past five centuries, the West has nurtured self-worth through the accumulation of worldly goods, serving our own selfish interests and exploiting others. This has been disastrous not only to human beings but to the whole ecology of the planet. Consumerism drives trade, but consumer buying is now like an unchained beast with tooth and claw causing han (unjust suffering) for exploited peoples as well as for other species and even for planet Earth. This book will examine ways of rethinking and reimagining ourselves, helping us to work in more just directions for a safer, sustainable planet. Empowering ourselves to act more justly includes reimagining and renewing our inspiration from God who is the transformative Spirit who gives, sustains and empowers life to all.

This book develops creative imagining of traditional doctrines. Chapters show the effectiveness of Latina/mujerista, evangelica, womanist, Asian American, and white feminist imaginings in the furthering of global gender justice.

When Psy's (Park Jae-sang) music video "Gangnam Style" went viral, it achieved not only overnight global appeal, but also made the Korean sensation an unexpected pop star breaking into the mainstream American music market. The popularity of Gangnam Style in the American scene has as much to say about our racialized society as is does about the man who fashioned a rap music with an infectious dance routine. Those who oppose this view maintain that Gangnam Style has achieved an overnight global appeal in part because of its catchy tune and a dance that is easy for audiences to imitate. As we listen to his music video, do we Americans laugh at him or with him? In this book, the authors respond to this question from historical and theological perspectives, that tackle the pressing issues concerning racial stereotypes, imposed masculinity, and imitating another in order to ridicule him/her.

For Centuries, tension has existed between the East and West. There appears to be a hierarchy of cultures with the West perceiving the East as inferior, so much so that it is referred to simply as "the Other." Because today's world is globally interdependent, inter-woven, and integrative, it is pertinent to be open to the cultural, spiritual, and religious understandings of the East. One key concept that links East to the West is Spirit, a basic religious dictum in many world religions. This book examines the striking resemblance between the Eastern concept of Chi and the Western Christian understanding of the Holy Spirit and opens the door for greater communication and dialogue about the Other. As Christianity seeks to renew its role and purpose in North America, this new pneumatology will help strengthen and help build the Reign of God as it embraces, welcomes, and accepts the Other.

This collection demonstrates a constructive potential in reimagining with doctrines, which unlocks them from centuries of patriarchal constraint. It opens the way for glimpsing divine action in the economy of salvation, while human struggles for justice are placed within a wider arena when discrete theological resources are deployed in this way.

This book develops creative imagining of traditional doctrines. Chapters show the effectiveness of Latina/mujerista, evangelica, womanist, Asian American, and white feminist imaginings in the furthering of global gender justice.

There appears to be a hierarchy of cultures with the West perceiving the East as inferior, so much so that it is referred to simply as 'the Other'. Because today's world is globally interdependent, inter-woven, and integrative, it is pertinent to be open to the cultural, spiritual, and religious understandings of the East

Combines empirical data and original analysis to offer a uniquely detailed account of Christianity in North America Profiles of Christianity in every country in North America, coupled with attractive presentations of statistical and demographic information Analyses of leading features and current trends in regard to Christianity in North America, written by local scholars with expertise in their field Essays examining each of the major Christian traditions as they are finding expression in North America Essays assessing the direction of Christian faith in North America in relation to such key themes as faith and culture, worship and spirituality, theology, social and political engagement, mission and evangelism, religious freedom, gender, inter-faith relations, immigration and xenophobia, Christian nationalism, ecology, and media Building on the success of EUP's highly acclaimed Atlas of Global Christianity, this volume is the seventh in a series of reference works that takes the analysis of worldwide Christianity to a deeper level of detail. It focuses on Christianity in North America, covering every country and offering both reliable demographic information and original interpretative essays by locally based scholars and practitioners. It maps patterns of growth and decline, assesses major traditions and movements, analyzes key themes, and examines current trends. As a comprehensive account of the presence of Christianity in every part of North America, this volume will become a standard work of reference in its field.

Grace Ji-Sun Kim's book centres on the Spirit as an avenue for better understanding God and reconciling with our faith. The Spirit is present in the Old Testament as ruach and in the New Testament as pneuma. When the field of theology was prominently German led, theologians used the word geist to talk about the Spirit. As an Asian American theologian, it is necessary to retrieve and disseminate Asian words and religious symbols into the mainstream discourse to revolutionize the accessibility and global understanding of God today. One important Asian concept is Chi, translated as wind, breath, spirit, energy, much like ruach, pneuma and geist. Chi is a term adept for coming to know God as the Spirit as it effectively conveys God's presence in the world. As such, we can move towards a nondualistic theology that provides an abundant space for everyone, including the marginalized and the subordinated, paving a path towards liberation and radical demarginalization.

16th Annual Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year - Culture We live in conflicted times. Our newsfeeds are filled with inequality, division, and fear. We want to make a difference and see justice restored because Jesus calls us to be a peacemaking and reconciling people. But how do we do this? Based on their work with diverse churches, colleges, and other organizations, Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Graham Hill offer Christian practices that can bring healing and hope to a broken world. They provide ten ways to transform society, from lament and repentance to relinquishing power, reinforcing agency, and more. Embodying these practices enables us to be the new humanity in Jesus Christ, so the church and world can experience reconciliation, justice, unity, peace, and love. With small group activities, discussion questions, and exercises in each chapter, this book is ideal to read together in community. Discover here how to bring real change to a dehumanized world.

Planetary Solidarity brings together leading Latina, womanist, Asian American, Anglican American, South American, Asian, European, and African woman theologians on the issues of doctrine, women, and climate justice. Because women make up the majority of the world's poor and tend to be more dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods and survival, they are more vulnerable when it comes to climate-related changes and catastrophes. Representing a subfield of feminist theology that uses doctrine as interlocutor, this book ask how Christian doctrine might address the interconnected suffering of women and the earth in an age of climate change. While doctrine has often stifled change, it also forms the thread that weaves Christian communities together. Drawing on postcolonial ecofeminist/womanist analysis and representing different ecclesial and denominational traditions, contributors use doctrine to envision possibilities for a deep solidarity with the earth and one another while addressing the intersection of gender, race, class, and ethnicity. The book is organized around the following doctrines: creation, the triune God, anthropology, sin, incarnation, redemption, the Holy Spirit, ecclesiology, and eschatology.