A Short History of ChristianityWorshipped by 2 billion Christians (and revered by 1.3 billion Muslims), Jesus Christ is the most famous human being ever. Yet how did this man from an obscure backwater in the Roman Empire achieve such extraordinary acclaim? How did religion founded in his name grom to become the most powerful on earth? What has been its relationship through history with that other giant of religions, Islam? In this fast-paced and entertaining book, journalist and historian Stephen Tomkins sets out to provide the answers. Beginning with the life of Jesus, he presents a warts-and-all portrait of the key people, events and movements in Christian history. For every debauched pope, murderous crusader and hate-filled inquisitor, there are glorious examples of heroic self-sacrifice, spiritual enlightenment and social transformation. Despite setbacks and conflict, the church has continued to change and grow, with the result that, at the start of the 21st century, its centre of gravity is moving south into sub-Saharan Africa and South America. The author ends by looking to the future, for the story is far from over. All those wanting to understand where Christianity is going need to learn where it has come from, and in this book they will find a lively and informative guide. |
Contents
7 | |
11 | |
12 | |
16 | |
21 | |
26 | |
33 | |
Blood and Sand 247311 | 39 |
The Reformation | 135 |
Luther 151722 | 136 |
Water and the Spirit 152229 | 141 |
Catholic Recovery 152945 | 147 |
Trent 154558 | 154 |
Wars of Religion 155898 | 160 |
The Ends of the Earth 14921600 | 166 |
More Wars 160060 | 172 |
The Christian Emperor 31237 | 45 |
The Puzzle of Jesus 33795 | 51 |
Augustine 395430 | 58 |
The Great Popes 430630 | 64 |
The Rise of Rome | 73 |
The Nightmare Begins 630700 | 74 |
Icons and Stirrups 70087 | 78 |
Charlemagne 787846 | 83 |
A Light in the Darkness 8971000 | 90 |
The Popes Revolution 100084 | 97 |
Onward Christian Soldiers 108499 | 104 |
Love War and Heresy 10991192 | 110 |
Innocent 11921292 | 115 |
Too Many Popes 12921443 | 122 |
Protest 14431516 | 129 |
Globalisation | 181 |
The Earth Moves 160989 | 182 |
The Age of Reason 16891730 | 187 |
Born Again 173469 | 193 |
Revolutions 17691831 | 200 |
Planet of the Apes 183170 | 209 |
World War and World Church 18701933 | 217 |
Totalitarians 193358 | 226 |
The New Catholicism 195878 | 232 |
John Paul II 19782000 | 238 |
The Third Millennium | 244 |
248 | |
251 | |