The completion of the Oxford Handbook of Asian Christian Theologies took more than five years. The project endured significant interruptions, including the global Covid-19 pandemic, the tragic passing of contributor Divine Word Father John Prior—a renowned specialist in Islam—and the subsequent withdrawal of several other authors.
The editor, Peter Phan, undertook the considerable task of sourcing new contributors from across the diverse fields of Asian theologies. Unfortunately, two more contributors passed away shortly before the volume went to press. The book is respectfully dedicated to the memory of these three distinguished theologians: Father Prior, Jesuit Father Thomas Michel, and Michael Demetrius H. Asis.
It has been more than 10 years since the publication of The Oxford Handbook of Christianity in Asia, edited by Felix Wilfred [OUP, 2014]. While there is some overlap between that volume and the present work, this handbook updates the material, surveying what Asian theologians and Churches have written about various themes. The Oxford Handbook of Asian Christian Theologies provides an excellent introduction to the theological currents across Asia.
With a total of 40 chapters, this handbook is organised into three main sections. The first explores major trends and movements, including inculturation and interreligious dialogue with Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Islam. It also discusses postcolonial, Dalit, tribal, minjung, feminist, ecological, Pentecostal, Sino-Christian, ecumenical, and migration theologies.
The second section examines key theological themes such as biblical hermeneutics, the Trinity, sin and woundedness, anthropology, Christology, pneumatology, ecclesiology, liturgy, spirituality, missiology, and eschatology.
The final section examines important Asian thinkers, including T. C. Chao, Choan-Seng Song, Uchimura Kanzo, Raimon Panikkar, Michael Amaladoss, Kwok Pui Lan, and many others. Given its broad and comprehensive scope, this volume will serve as an essential text for scholars and students seeking to understand the theological movements influencing Christianity in Asia today.
In this handbook, the term “Asian” includes South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Asian diaspora, but excludes Central and West Asia. “Christian” includes Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant, Evangelical, and Pentecostal theological traditions. It is essentially an ecumenical project, contributed by an international group of scholars and practitioners who are either Asian or have worked in Asia. The 40 chapters from different Christian traditions represent a rich variety of viewpoints.
Of the 42 contributors, four are from Hong Kong—two Protestants, Lai Pan-chiu and Simon Kwan, and two Catholics, Mary Yuen and Father Ambrose Mong.
Ambrose Mong
