The Blessing of Africa

According to some estimates, Africa will soon have the highest concentration of Christians in the world. But African Christianity has had a long and conflicted history. Even today, modern misinterpretations of Scripture argue for God's curse upon the dark-skinned peoples of Africa.

In this comprehensive study, Keith Burton traces the story of biblical Africa and the place of the Bible in the land of Ham. Beginning with the Old Testament, he explores the geography of biblical Africa and moves beyond stereotypical discussions of African ethnicity and identity. He then chronicles the African presence in the church from the New Testament onward, paying particular attention to the growth of Islam in Africa as well as the impact of European colonialism and the slave trade. Coming to the modern era, he examines the achievements of African Christianity and visionary efforts to adapt and reclaim Christianity for the African context.

Burton invites readers to discover anew the relevance of the biblical narrative for African Christians as well as Scripture's influence on African Christianity. This invigorating work places the story of the Bible and African Christianity in a wider global context and challenges readers to think differently about history and the biblical world.

INTERVIEWS

Premier Christian Radio (London, England) Big Issue with Bridgette Tetteh (October 13, 2008)

WEUP (Huntsville, AL) WEUP Talk with David Person (August 8, 2007)

WFSK (Nashville, TN) What's the 411 with Sharon Kay (September 15, 2007)

TWR (United Kingdom) TWR Word Interviews with Brent Siddall (October 24, 2007) Listen here

WFSK (Nashville, TN) What's the 411 with Sharon Kay (October 28, 2007) Listen here Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3

WNYG (Babylon, NY) Rise Above It with Kevin Jenkins (December 16, 2007) Listen here

Matthew's House Project MHP Interview with Zach Kincaid (January 8, 2008) Read here

CDR Radio Network Front Page with Chad Bresson (February 22, 2008) Listen here

KTIS (Saint Paul, MN) Along the Way with Kim Jeffries (February 22, 2008) Listen here

WAFG (South Florida) Vocal Point with Lesley Hurst (March 4, 2008) Listen here Pt 1, Pt 2

WFSK (Nashville, TN) What's the 411 with Sharon Kay (May 4, 2008) Listen: Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5

Premier Christian Radio (London, England) Big Issue with Bridgette Tetteh (October 13, 2008)

BBC Radio Bristol (Bristol, England) Sunday Starts with Trevor Fry (October 19, 2008)

R E V I E W S  &   E N D O R S E M E N T S

"I found this book fascinating and have learned from it considerably, both on matters I have previously studied and on material that was new to me. On points where my views differ, Burton has challenged and stimulated my thinking."—Craig S. Keener, professor of New Testament, Palmer Theological Seminary, and coauthor of Black Man's Religion and Defending Black Faith

"Keith Augustus Burton, in his new volume, The Blessing of Africa: The Bible and African Christianity, helps us to see that all roads do not lead to Rome. There is at least one highway that tends southward toward Ethiopia and even to the lands beyond its rivers. As Augustine said, 'God hath foretold that the Church should be in Africa.'

Dr. Burton's familiarity with the sources and his broad historical view make it possible for him to paint a vivid picture of Yahweh's word at work in the 'land of Ham.' In a day when historians, religion teachers, journalists and even filmmakers are rushing to grasp the significance of Africa's sudden turn toward Christianity, Burton makes solid sense of what is happening biblically, theologically and historically. He deserves our thanks. You will agree as you read it."—Charles E. Bradford, president (retired), Seventh-day Adventist Churches in North America

"This is indeed a landmark publication as it is an invaluable contribution on the specificity of African Christian theology that has blossomed in the last thirty-five years since J. S. Mbiti's seminal article of 1972. I wholeheartedly commend The Blessing of Africa to all, especially Africans and African Americans who want to appreciate the Bible as the basis of African Christianity and its theology in the world today."—Ukachukwu Chris Manus, professor, Department of Religious Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and author of Christ the African King and Intercultural Hermeneutics of the Bible in Africa

G ET   Y O U R   C O P Y   T O D A Y !

►InterVarsity Press

►Amazon.com

►Barnes & Noble

►Books a Million

►Booksense

►Christianbook.com

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Retail Price: $20.00
Length: 294 pages
Size: 6 x 9 inches
Binding: paper
Published: July 2007
ISBN: 0-8308-2762-5