The Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology – the flagship journal of the Asian Theological Association – is now open access.
The latest issue (with contributions on spiritual formation and mission in Asian contexts) is available from here, and downloadable as a pdf from here.
Paul S. Fiddes, Spirit, Elements in Religion and Monotheism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2026).
The above short (72-page) book is available as a free pdf download until 15 October 2026.
Here is the summary:
‘The Element begins by surveying the image of spirit within Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It explores the duality between the experience of spirit “from beyond” and spirit “within”, and finds a consistency in the idea of spirit as the presence and activity of God in the world. Attention is given to the image of spirit as an “overflow” in Islam and late Judaism. Moving into discussion of a dialectic between “spirit” and “letter”, or spirit and written text, gives a context for investigating the place of spirit in the New Testament, modern romanticism and idealism, and finally in the late-modern protest against structures of spirit. Finally, the development of spirit into the “Holy Spirit” of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is considered, arguing that an experience of spirit as an inexhaustible relation and flow of love will oppose forces of domination in human life.
The book can be downloaded as a pdf from here.
Edward J. Creedy, Clement of Alexandria, Early Christian Instruction and the 'Catechetical School', Elements in Early Christian Literature (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2026).
The above short (86-page) book is available as a free pdf download until 15 October 2026.
Here is the summary:
‘With a scant biography and a notoriously complex oeuvre, Clement of Alexandria survives as one of the most enigmatic early Christian figures. He was traditionally understood as the head of an Alexandrian Catechetical School, succeeding Pantaenus and preceding the more famous Origen. With Eusebius traditionally read as our earliest witness to such a school, however, the anachronism of formal catechetical institution in the second century has long divided scholars. This Element both reintroduces this complex figure and reconsiders the Eusebian presentation of the so-called Catechetical School. Through a close reading of both Eusebius and Clement a new understanding of Clement's pedagogical context is explored. Eusebius does not suggest an early formal institution but is in fact deliberate in describing a far looser, retrospective association between these early Christian intellectuals. With the spectre of an anachronistic Catechetical School banished, the historical reality of Clement's second-century instruction can be retrieved and reevaluated.’
The book can be downloaded as a pdf from here.
The Evangelical Alliance has published a report on ‘Understanding UK Evangelicals: Who are They?’
Here are some snapshots:
‘This report presents the findings of a landmark survey that sought to measure the size, shape and identity of the evangelical population across the United Kingdom.’
‘Most practising Christians in the UK are evangelicals and evangelical Christianity is growing. Evangelicals are younger, more ethnically diverse, and more likely to be male than the wider population.’
‘Using the narrowest definition there are now an estimated 2.6 million evangelical Christians in the UK.’
‘Evangelical Christianity is thriving among young people, ethnic minority populations and men. The UK church is growing, and this looks set to continue, given the demographics.’
See here for more information and to download (with an email required) the report itself.
The latest issue of Anabaptist Witness is devoted to the topic of ‘Missiology Revisited’, with essays and responses from James R. Krabill, Wilbert Shenk, Lois Y. Barrett, and others.
More information is available here, and the issue is downloadable as a pdf here.
The Evangelical Alliance has launched a brief guide offering practical ways to share the Christian faith with the ‘spiritually curious’.
From the blurb:
‘The cultural moment we’re living in is one of remarkable spiritual curiosity… However, it is not just Christianity that people are turning to in their search. The spiritual curiosity is splintered in all directions. For some, the hunger for the transcendent is leading them to alternative spiritualities, trying out things like tarot cards, crystals, manifesting and psychedelics…
‘The question for many people is no longer whether God exists; the question now is – which god?’
See here for more information and a sight of the booklet itself.
The September–October 2026 issue of Mission Frontiers, published by Frontier Ventures, contains a number of articles devoted to the topic of ‘Becoming Alongsiders’.
Here’s some of the issue blurb, which sets the scene:
‘Does your prayer life need a boost? How big is your vision for what God is doing among the least reached?
‘In this issue... we look inside prayer movements in which God has invited His children like you and me into His unstoppable plan to be glorified among all the peoples. Regardless of geography, economics, and education, each of us has the capacity to change the world through prayer. So, click and read this issue and be encouraged and inspired and maybe even be changed by joining one of the movements described within…’
The issue is available here, from where individual articles can be accessed, and the entire issue can be downloaded as a pdf here.
