IS CHRISTIANITY A WESTERN RELIGION?
And other questions international students ask
By Peter Teagle
Friends International. 187 pages. £7.99
(£5 for a pdf download from Friends
International)
We are very privileged in the UK to host thousands of international students at our universities. They may appear quite Westernised, but the cultures they come often have different ways of thinking.
Peter Teagle is an evangelist who works among international students and this book contains his answers to the 20 questions he is most frequently asked. It is aimed at international students, but would be valuable for anyone who wants to point them to Jesus.
Some of the questions are common to all, such as Who is Jesus, Suffering, and Science. Others reflect the need to impart basic information like What do Christians do? Here Teagle moves on from explaining baptism and communion to the essentials of faith in Jesus. Relating to unbelieving parents is something that gets far more attention than would be the case in a book aimed at British students. No knowledge is assumed. There are also chapters on honouring ancestors and religious fanaticism.
The tone is friendly, with the author sharing his own experiences as well as those of others. Each question is ended with a ‘Something to Try’ section to turn knowledge into action.
If you know an international student, give them a copy, or read it yourself to get a non-Western approach to the questions they ask.
