Sometimes [evangelicals] do find ourselves embattled, defending the truth… But not all the time; at times, a more irenic, a more conversational approach is appropriate. … Of course, many evangelicals and many feminist biblical scholars would see this interface [between evangelical and feminist approaches] as a skirmish zone in a key conflict over the nature and use of the Bible. We beg to differ, seeking a more excellent way, a friendlier path through this territory that might prove fruitful for both evangelical and feminist scholars.

What then are the key issues that feminist OT hermeneutics raises for evangelical interpreters? Here are some: is the text as a whole, or are particular texts, inherently oppressive? … How do we wrestle with the historical and cultural particularity of the text/s while maintaining that it is the word of a God of freedom and fidelity, a God of love and justice? What do we do with texts that seem to deny women the dignity we believe is rightly theirs – and which have been used in such ways?

Lindsay shared a series of snapshots of the state of world Christianity, including 3 aspects of growth:

1. Growth has followed in the wake of the fall of world powers, especially communism. The years since 1989 have seen the most widespread, thoroughly worldwide growth in Christianity. Mongolia had just 6 Christians but now has more than 160 churches, while the Christian population of Albania has grown from 2 to 2000. The number of Christians in Nepal, which was entirely cut off from Christianity until 1954, is now approaching 1 million. Russia had 80000 Christians but now has ten times that. As an example of contributing factors, this Russian growth is largely due to a local movement, the once-closeted Christians of Ukraine who had been forcibly incorporated into the USSR many years ago.

2. Evangelicals now form a truly worldwide movement. The five biggest evangelical populations are found in China, India, USA, Brazil and Nigeria. There are more than 70 million evangelicals in China, making up three quarters of its Christian population. Ethiopia’s evangelical student movement is the most explosive of its kind, having grown tenfold since 1989 to around 25000 members today. Europe is the only continent where evangelical Christianity is not expanding rapidly.

3. The most substantial missionary force is now non-western, including probably 60% of all cross-cultural missionaries. Nigeria has run at least one massive student conference entirely focused on cross-cultural mission, and the relationship between Nigeria and Europe has now flip-flopped entirely, as they tell it: there are now 4000 Nigerian missionaries in Europe when once it was the other way around. The growth of Christianity in France stems significantly from African immigration.

What do you make of this? For us Western evangelicals, much of this is still “new news” for our church life and ministry headspace. For one thing, it strikes me that the voices worth listening to are those that are conversant with world Christianity. Speaking as an Australian evangelical, do our horizons extend beyond our own back yard? Is our current enthusiasm for church planting just about “home renovation” or is it genuinely tied in with global growth? In terms of what we’re reading and talking about, what do our RSS feeds and Facebook walls say about our headspace?

It’s difficult to describe my level of excitement about this book. It’s edited by an Australian for a start, and it features a number of “down under” voices alongside British and American authors. But just think about the title: Feminist Old Testament hermeneutics? Yes please!; From a generous evangelical perspective? Absolutely!

There’s nothing on Jephthah’s daughter in it (do I sense an opening? ;) ) but just about every chapter piques my interest. The final chapter asks, “Can our Hermeneutics be both Evangelical and Feminist? Insights from the Theory and Practice of Theological Interpretation.” Stay tuned folks! I feel a blog series coming on!

Triangle (2009, Australia). After their yacht is wrecked in a storm, a group of friends climb aboard a mysterious, old-style cruise liner. If you can accept its central idea, Triangle is superbly mind-bending and nightmarish.

Deathwatch (2002, UK). On the Western Front, 1917, a group of British soldiers hole up in a haunted trench. Fantastically grubby and disturbing, Deathwatch has the mud to make up for its lack of mystery.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006, Ireland). Set in the 1920s during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War, this well-crafted tragedy tells the story of two brothers. I wonder if this is for Ireland what Peter Weir’s Gallipoli is for Australia.

The Adventures of Tintin (2011, USA). A brilliant American remake of Hergé’s classic character. Every element serves the madcap storytelling, including the outstanding mocap animation which breezes by unnoticed.

Made in Dagenham (2010, UK). In the world’s largest Ford factory, 187 women go on strike in an attempt to gain equal pay. It’s funny, it’s charming, and it’s a wonderful call to keep backing women all the way!

Dog Soldiers (2002, UK). While training deep in the Scottish highlands, a group of tough British soldiers try to defend a cottage from an onslaught of werewolves. The convincing soldier characters are offset by some pretty flaky dog-suits!

The Horde (2009, France). It’s nothing particularly new, but this well-made zombie flick has interesting characters and none of that annoying, long-winded survival dialogue!

Sector 7 (2011, South Korea). A monster movie set on an oil rig. My culture-crossing curiosity was piqued by the constant references to honour.

Redline (2010, Japan). This wacky new-school anime has it all: mecha, monsters, politics and romance, all revolving around an intergalactic hovercar race. It’s slick but it’s somehow less than the sum of its parts.

Agora (2009, Spain). In fifth-century Alexandria, the brilliant scholar Hypatia advances the study of astronomy, ignoring growing religious squabbles at her peril. It could have been so stimulating, but this historical epic ends up as a uneven, unsubtle parable about the danger of fundamentalism.

The Ring (2002, USA). A remake of the Japanese horror film. Never mind why the evil girl hides in videotapes, this is a pretty well-crafted creep-out movie.

The Oxford Murders (2008, UK/Spain). Despite a good cast, the intriguing Oxford setting and a potentially stimulating story, this mathematical murder mystery comes off as an irritating wild-goose chase.

Karate Girl (2011, Japan). Two long-separated sisters are pitted against each other by an evil martial arts megalomaniac. High on combat scenes, low on character.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008, USA). In “Forrest Gump in reverse”, Benjamin Button ages backwards. It’s epic and glossy but is it all just surface paint?

Carriers (2009, USA). A post-apocalyptic roadtrip movie with two American brothers trying to make it to the beach amidst a viral pandemic. It’s pretty pedestrian stuff but it just managed to hold my attention.

Plus a bunch of other movies: The Godfather … The Godfather Part II … The Quick and the Dead … Bedknobs and Broomsticks … Dan in Real Life … Day of the Dead (1985) … Day of the Dead (2008) … Robin Hood (2010) … Space Cowboys … The Holiday … The Thaw

Plus return helpings of some classics: Blade Runner (Final Cut) … Contact … Good Bye Lenin … The Castle of Cagliostro … Alien … Aliens … Terminator Salvation … Jurassic Park

And one TV series: When zombies invade the Big Brother house, it makes for really compelling viewing! Check out Dead Set (2008, UK).