The author reflects on the challenges to theology arising from a sociocultural and religious context. This is the result of varied and complex changes that have taken place in Latin America during the last decades. The analysis pays attention to features of this sociocultural and religious configuration such as the changes occurring in daily life, the intergenerational relationships, new ways of living religious life, and a new understanding of the position of human beings within the ecosystem. This context poses several challenges to the Latin-American theological task at the epistemological and at the methodological levels, and also to value the contributions that these theological approaches have made.

Much of poverty alleviation theory and practice fails to sufficiently consider the following crucial factor: the religious dimension. This paper elaborates this thesis by focusing on the African context and the valuable resources African religious communities and movements can provide in the struggle against poverty. One particularly influential streak of present-time African religiousness serves as a case study: the so-called ‘Prosperity Gospel’ as part of Pentecostal Christianity. The author first argues for the continuing formative influence of religion on African conceptions of self, other, and world. Secondly, she provides a critical assessment of the impact of Pentecostalism and the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ on poverty alleviation. In comparison with secular ngos, Pentecostal churches emerge as the more effective agents of change. A third part situates the insights gained into a wider perspective, seeking ways to integrate the religious factor into a more holistic conception of and engagement against poverty

Abstract The phenomenon of the Nigerian Pentecostal/charismatic missionaries and communities led by them has been fairly well documented with respect to some Western European countries. However, much less attention has been given to the ministry of Nigerian-initiated Pentecostal/charismatic churches in Central Europe. The present paper seeks to fill this lacuna by exploring the ministry of three Nigerian-initiated churches in Prague, the Czech Republic, namely ‘The Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries’, ‘Covenant Parish Prague’ of ‘The Redeemed Christian Church of God’, and ‘The Holy Ghost End Time Ministries Intl.’ The present article analyzes different strategies these churches use to move beyond their ethnic origin. On these particular case studies, it tests a thesis, suggested by the research done by various scholars with respect to the Nigerian Pentecostal immigration in Europe and, especially, Great Britain, which claims that Nigerian-initiated Pentecostal/charismatic churches in Europe fail to appeal to the population of non-Nigerian and non-Pentecostal/charismatic backgrounds. This contribution suggests taking a more complex approach to the phenomenon by considering aspects such as contextual knowledge/experience of the pastor, language politics, worldview, worship style, and outreach policy. It will be proposed that sheer numbers are not to be perceived as the main indicator of whether or not a specific church represents an active missionary force, but rather a multiplicity of factors should be taken into consideration.

Abstract Finland is seen as a model country for ecumenism. For many years the country was almost monolithic Lutheran, but today Lutheranism is no longer a state religion. Yet, certain state-church structures still exist in this modern welfare state. Religiously Finland is characterized by strong secularization as well as by privatized faith. Since the 1960s minority churches came more to the forefront, in particular the Finnish Orthodox Church whose impact exceeds its small quantity. The Lutheran majority Church strongly facilitated the ecumenical dialogue with Eastern Orthodoxy, initially in international and later on in national perspective. In the article the development of this attractive discourse is highlighted. It became an appealing process of mutual learning between Eastern and Western Christianity.

"Ennio Mantovai, Mission: Collision or Dialogical Encounter? A Chronicle of St. Paul’s Parish, Yobai, Papua New Guinea, Sankt-Augustin: Steyler Verlag, 2011, 475 p. isbn 978-3-8050-0581-4." published on 01 Jan 2013 by Brill.

Abstract The Muslim theologian Süleyman Turan has written an expressly objective portrayal about Christian missiology as a discipline from an Islamic perspective. He wrote his book in open exchange of ideas with Christian missiologists. That makes the book a successful example of a constructive Christian-Muslim dialogue. As the discussion about Christian mission in Turkey was very biased in the past, Turan’s dissertation could help to introduce perspectives into this discussion that were neglected until now. Turan confirms that mission is one of the natural characteristics of Christianity. He also demonstrates that missiology is critically evaluating errors of Christian mission in the past. Some self-criticism towards the Muslim side would have given the book even more credibility. Nevertheless, I hope that it can contribute to a more objective and realistic discussion about Christian mission in a Muslim context.

Abstract This study aims to investigate how the Biblical view of the Suffering Servant transforms a basic pattern of the hero’s journey into a narrative of spiritual growth in modern literature. In this article, especially, I will examine the novel Deep River by the 20th-century Japanese Catholic novelist, Endō Shūsaku, paying special attention to his use of Jungian archetypes. Unlike the beautiful and gracious Holy Mother of Christian belief, the image of Endō’s feminine divinity is what we think as ordinary, depressing, shameful, and even ugly. As the very embodiment of this motherly divine Love, the hero of the novel eventually figures out that his journey should be structured analogously to the narrative of the Suffering Servant. This hero helps people discover the mother-like God and invites them into their own spiritual journey in which they accept the vulnerability, ineffectiveness and helplessness of human existence.