Bruce L. Shelley (1927–2010)

While it was highly readable and interesting enough for me to quickly cover the 500 pages, I was disappointed in the author's tone. I felt much more like I was reading the work of a Christian than a historian due to the value judgments that existed between the lines of this supposed work of history. While all historians have their own backgrounds and points of view, I expect historians to do their best to prevent their preexisting ideas and values from interfering with the presentation of show more facts and analytical, researched arguments. For example, it was jarring whenever Shelley used "we" language. At the end of his chapter on the Crusades, he says, "Unfortunately the popes never held two basic truths that we must never forget..." Here, the "we" reads like an assumption on the author's part that his readers share his Christian faith. Throughout the later chapters, the author is also unable to conceal his skepticism or even disdain of secularization and liberalization--again, rather than discussing these social forces from a historian's perspective, he allows his perspective as a Christian (and as a particular kind of Christian, since Christians are not all the same) to creep in.

It was also difficult, in reading the 1996 version, to excuse some of the outdated language. In particular, it was frustrating to read the sections describing "savage" or "brutal" Native American tribes. I would hope that a more recent edition would take into account more recent scholarship, or just sheer appropriateness and human respect, with regard to non-Western groups discussed in the book.

There's also a frustrating lack of women discussed in the book. I was hoping to get Jane Addams thrown in for the Social Gospel chapters, but alas, no mention. Almost more frustrating than the lack of particular women mentioned was the male-centric language in general. For example, in the section about missionaries, the author discusses the role of "missionaries and their wives", as if the women were not also missionaries.

Finally, it was confusing to me that there was not one mention of Mormons. Given that there were whole chapters on Vatican II and the Religious Right, I would have thought that the Mormons would have at least a mention in 500 pages.

Overall, I'm glad I read it. I certainly learned some new information, and was able to contextualize some prior knowledge, and also had the interesting sociological experience of reading what I considered to be a flawed history book, particularly if reviewers elsewhere on the Internet are correct in saying that this book is widely read by students preparing for life in ministry. show less

This is the most readable of all the church history books i've examined. It is thorough and often gives unique insights. It is a relatively easy read as history books go and the accounts will hold your interest. I would recommend this book as a great starting place for a layman wanting to study church history and it has enough depth to still be of value for those conversant in church history.

This book is alright, if you don't set much store in things like historical accuracy, thoroughness, or nuanced treatment of subjects. Two stars because at least it was readable. I do not recommend as a serious or accurate source of information, but if all you have time for is a quick and dirty overview of the topic (and if you are already familiar enough with the history to know when it is misrepresented) then I suppose this would do the trick.

Here is a good example of a very readable and accessible one-volume church history. The second edition covers the progress -- and regress -- of Christianity from its beginnings to the mid 1990s. Shelley writes in a style that both church history novices and journeymen can appreciate. Of necessity, he uses broad strokes to fit the whole story into a book of only 520 pages. But there is enough detail to make it interesting.

Shelley divides the history of the church into eight chronological show more parts or "ages":

(1) The Age of Jesus and the Apostles (6 BC - AD 70)
(2) The Age of Catholic Christianity (70-312)
(3) The Age of the Christian Roman Empire (312-590)
(4) The Christian Middle Ages (590-1517)
(5) The Age of the Reformation (1517-1648)
(6) The Age of Reason and Revival (1648-1789)
(7) The Age of Progress (1789-1914)
(8) The Age of Ideologies (1914-1996)

Footnotes (actually, end notes in this case) are kept to a minimum--possibly too much of a minimum for the more academically-inclined reader. He includes four or five helpful suggestions for further reading at the conclusion of each chapter, and at the end of the book, following the notes there is a list of Roman Catholic popes, and, following that, separate indexes of people, movements, and events discussed in the book.

Unfortunately, the author completely overlooks my own American religious heritage, the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement of the 19th century, which resulted in today's Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. I believe that is a significant omission. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed recently reading the book for the third time (the first two readings were of the first edition) and will likely read it again one day since a third edition is now available.

Every serious Christian should take the time to become familiar with the major events, movements, and people of church history. This book will help them accomplish that. show less