Patrick Nachtigall has written three books which focus on the nexus between religion and globalization:

Mosaic: A Journey Across the Church of God (2010) pp. 287

Does a reformation movement born in the nineteenth century still have a future?  Beginning at the cemetery where his great-grandfather is buried, Patrick Nachtigall sets out on a journey to see how the Church of God is facing six critical challenges.  From a megachurch in the flatlands of the Midwest, to an isolated churchin Siberia, to the Philippines where pastors deal with Pentecostal movements, to the Middle East where a former Al-Qaeda member comes to Christ, Patrick treks to six different continents to talk with Church of God people.  He seeks to understand the realities that we face in the twenty-first century.

Here is a picture of a very diverse movement where some congregations exist in a traditional Christendom world, others in a post-Christendom world, and yet others in a pre-Christendom Book of Acts world.  Patrick finds that we are a movement filled with holiness but desperately lacking unity.  So our future is an open question.

Mosaic is for anyone who wants to understand the macro trends that affect not only the Church of God, but the entire Christian church worldwide.  Visit the Mosaic website, purchase the book and post your opinion.

Faith in the Future:  Christianity’s Interface with Globalization (2008) pp.136

Selected as one of World Magazine’s Best Books for 2008-2009, Faith in the Future discusses the opportunities and challenges that globalization is bringing to the Christian Church.  Patrick argues that we have entered into a unique period of history he calls “hyperglobalization” in which the world is interconnecting economically, politically, technologically, and culturally at a speed and scale that the world has never seen.  “Of all people, Christians should fear globalization the least,” argues Nachtigall.” The openness and inter-connectivity globalization provides is giving the Gospel an unprecedented opportunity to reach deep into every society on earth.

In “Part I:  The Opportunities:” Patrick discusses how different this era of unprecedented geo-political peace is in comparison to other eras of history, the dramatic shrinking of poverty levels in the past decades, the new methods of helping the poor, the emergence of fast growing non-Western Christianity, the importance of education, and Christian growth amongst secularizing Europe.

In Part II: The Challenges:” Patrick turns his attention to the dark side of globalization.  Sexual slavery, transnational terrorism, environmental degradation, underpopulation, urbanization, persecuted Christians, and the false hope of perpetual economic prosperity are all examined.

Faith in the Future will change the way you look at the global shifts occurring in the world and prepare you for truly global engagement.  Available at Amazon.com and other locations.

Passport of Faith:  A Christian’s Encounter with World Religions (2006) pp.316

Are all religions basically the same?  Join Patrick on a journey around the world as he explores why Christianity is unique amongst the world’s religions.  Patrick explores Atheism in Cuba, Shinto in Japan, Hinduism in Sri Lanka and Singapore, Buddhism in Thailand and South Korea, Confucianism and Taoism in China, Judaism in Israel, and Islam in Morocco and Egypt.  Through conversations with people of different faiths, Patrick explores why people believe what they believe and how it compares to Christianity. Appendix 1 explores Globalization and the inevitable counter-action which occurs and Appendix 2 suggests 7 Commitments to Help Us Become Global Christians.

Passport of Faith is a book for anyone who has wanted to understand the differences between religions.  Used as a textbook in several colleges and seminaries, it is also helpful for young people trying to sort out issues of faith.  Check out the Passport of Faith website and listen to the podcasts.  Order now from amazon.com or other stores.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Patrick received his B.A. from Anderson University and his M.A. from Yale University in the field of religion. He has lived in Latin America, Asia, and North America and is now the Regional Coordinator for Europe and the Middle East for the Church of God. Patrick has traveled to more than 60 countries around the world and has written on issues relating to religion and globalization for a number of periodicals. He runs the Three-Worlds.com website and leads the Three Worlds Team with his wife Jamie.