The Story of Christianity

For my Lenten reading in 2009, I delved into a history of the world since Jesus, which generally corresponds to the history detailed in The Story of Christianity. This omnibus edition (two-volumes-in-one) covers most of the major individuals, historical periods, doctrinal battles, and denominational divisions of the last two millennia. Interestingly, the book also covers Christianity in areas rarely noted, like in South America and Africa.

The book does tend to follow people more often than doctrines, so there are times when the narrative bounces back and forth in time and seemingly repeats itself.

Obviously, one book can't cover everything in great detail, but there were a few notable omissions. Perhaps strangest was the six sentences show more about the Inquisition scattered over a handful of paragraphs. While it's not Christianity's proudest moment, it's a major historical event that probably needed to be included. show less

Thorough, engaging, accessible work on the history of the church.

(loses a half-star for favoring Liberation Theology toward the end of the second volume)

Muy respeto por la ortodoxía hasta los capítulos finales, que son liberales y ecuménicos, alabando el protestantismo muerto del Norte sin veer que el cristianismo vivo del Sur es evangelico.

Dos volumenes en uno, debrían los repaginar.

Muchos errores de diagramación en los capítulos finales.

Please read this book! Wow, what a nice overview of all of Christian history. There may have been a couple of questionable statements made throughout the course of this 800+ page volume.

An extensive look into history, connecting all of the points that made Christianity what it is today!