Encyclopedia of Christianity

{{for|the 1998–2008 translation of the German work {{lang|de|Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon}}|The Encyclopedia of Christianity}}

{{Further|topic=the 2014 publication|Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Encyclopedia of Christianity

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = Encyclopedia of Christianity.jpg

| caption =

| author = John Stephen Bowden

| illustrator =

| cover_artist =

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| series =

| subject = Christianity

| genre =

| publisher = Oxford University Press

| pub_date = August 2005

| media_type = Print

| pages = 1364

| isbn = 0195223934

| dewey = 230.003

| congress = BR95 .E47 2005

| oclc = 60359641

}}

The Encyclopedia of Christianity is a one-volume encyclopedia published by Oxford University Press and edited by John Bowden of the University of Nottingham and King's College, London.{{cite news | url=https://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2006-10/encyclopedia-christianity | magazine=The Christian Century | title=Encyclopedia of Christianity | first=Wayne A. | last=Holst | date=2 October 2006 | accessdate=11 July 2022 }}Richard N. Ostling, [http://azdailysun.com/two-reference-works-rank-as-s-best-books-on-religion/article_0ed720f2-b580-56b6-b3fe-beb7bf001d2a.html "Two reference works rank as 2005's best books on religion"], Associated Press in Arizona Daily Sun, 9 December 2005. It contains over three hundred articles on a variety of Christian topics and themes.{{cite book|author=John Stephen Bowden|title=Encyclopedia of Christianity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NGAUAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=23 April 2013|date=15 August 2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-522393-4}} Some of the authors include professor John Barton from Oxford University, Cynthia B. Cohen from Georgetown University and Martin Marty from the University of Chicago. It contains twenty one colour pictures and ninety six black and white illustrations.[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-19-522393-4 Publishers Weekly - Review]Douglas A Sweeney. "Books Reviews and Notes". Church History. Vol 75. Issue 4. December 2006. pp 961 - 962. [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=E97C5A52DD5E129282657369C3E97AA7.journals?fromPage=online&aid=2307504 Cambridge Journals].

In his introduction Bowden noted that most Christians have only a limited understanding of the traditions of their own religion. The Christian Century called the encyclopedia "a major scholarly achievement" but noted that it relied entirely on scholars from Europe and North America. Religion writer Richard Ostling called this book, together with its companion release, the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed.), "2005's books of the year in religion", and commented that the Encyclopedia takes a "relatively moderate approach to literary and historical disputes." Publishers Weekly said: "Overall, this encyclopedia is a must-have for any Christian reference shelf."