Reading Selection 1: Diarmaid MacCulloch,Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, 1-12 According to MacCulloch, Christian history is a story which was told and believed by Jesus’ disciples. He calls Christianity a “personality cult” in which he describes Jesus as a historical figure who was admired and present as God by the early believers.

Is Diarmaid MacCulloch’s film on the history of Christianity accurate?

Diarmaid MacCulloch, an Oxford history professor, travels to historical points of interest relevant to Christianity discussing the origins and spread of Christianity in a span of 6 episodes. Interesting film. But many facts are poorly described. There are inaccuracies. The history of Christianity is described superficially, roughly, negligently.

What is a history of Christianity episode 1?

A History of Christianity episode 1: professor Diarmaid MacCulloch – reveals the origins of Christianity and explores what it means to be a Christian. When Diarmaid MacCulloch was a small boy, his parents used to drive him round historic churches.

Who was Diarmaid MacCulloch?

When Diarmaid MacCulloch was a small boy, his parents used to drive him round historic churches. Little did they know that they had created a monster, with the history of the Christian Church becoming his life’s work.

Where did Christianity come from?

Most Christian histories start with St Paul’s mission to Rome, but Diarmaid MacCulloch argues that the first Christianity stayed much closer to its Middle-Eastern roots. He describes not only the main ideas and personalities of Christian history, its organization and spirituality, but how it has changed politics, sex, and human society.

Special offers and product promotions

Create your FREE Amazon Business account to save up to 10% with Business-only prices and free shipping. Register today

Product Description

A History of Christianity, a six-part series presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, an Oxford history professor whose books about Cranmer and the Reformation have been acclaimed as masterpieces. A History Of Christianity will reveal the true origins of Christianity and delve into what it means to be a Christian.

Customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

What episode of A History of Christianity is Diarmaid MacCulloch in?

A History of Christianity episode 1 – The First Christianity. When Diarmaid MacCulloch was a small boy, his parents used to drive him round historic churches. Little did they know that they had created a monster, with the history of the Christian Church becoming his life’s work.

What episode of A History of Christianity is the first?

A History of Christianity episode 1 – The First Christianity. A History of Christianity episode 1: professor Diarmaid MacCulloch – reveals the origins of Christianity and explores what it means to be a Christian.

Why did early Christians suffer under sporadic anti-Christian policies in the Roman Empire?

Early Christians suffered under sporadic anti-Christian policies in the Roman Empire as the result of local pagan populations putting pressure on the imperial authorities to take action against the Christians in their midst, who were thought to bring misfortune by their refusal to honour the gods.

What was the first apocalyptic period?

The first part of the period, during the lifetimes of the Twelve Apostles, is called the Apostolic Age. In line with the Great Commission attributed to the resurrected Jesus, the Apostles are said to have dispersed …

Where did the Apostles spread Christianity?

In line with the Great Commission attributed to the resurrected Jesus, the Apostles are said to have dispersed from Jerusalem, and the Christian missionary activity spread Christianity to cities throughout the Hellenistic world and even beyond the Roman Empire.

What is the most difficult and troubling affirmation of the Christian faith?

Amidst a montage of evocative images, MacCulloch opines that “The belief that Jesus can overcome death is the most difficult and troubling affirmation of the Christian faith. Over twenty centuries it’s made Christians act in heroic, joyful, beautiful, terrible ways.” How, exactly, has he concluded that Jesus overcoming death is “difficult and troubling” — let alone “the most difficult and troubling”?

What prompted the first Christians to flee?

Explaining that a Roman siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 prompted the first Christians to flee, MacCulloch asks, “Where would Gentile Christians look now?”, and again presuming his audience to be acquainted with the New Testament, he remarks, “You might think obviously west to Rome, because that’s where Paul had gone. But at the time it would not have seemed obvious at all.” But is this not a false dichotomy? At this point in history, churches had already been established in the cities to which Paul wrote his epistles. Why would devastation in Jerusalem terminate them? And why does MacCulloch ignore them?

What episode does Grace Dalton reflect on?

Grace Dalton reflects on Episode 1 of Diarmaid MacCulloch’s ‘A History of Christianity,’ which was recently re-aired on the BBC.

Where is Grace Dalton?

Grace Dalton is a Christian blogger based in the UK who comments on issues of all kinds in society and the media. You can find her blog at http://gracedrawsfluffythings.blogspot.com/.

Is Etimasthe still on Twitter?

Please note that etimasthe is no longer on Twitter or Facebook. See announcement here.

What is the perspective of meeting Jesus again?

He does this by examining his own faith journey, and how his vison of Jesus and God changed as he matured and had various experiences. After his personal narrative, Borg examines the different perspectives scholars consider for Jesus. These two perspectives are the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. It is through these two perspectives that Borg examines not only his own faith but Christianity as well.…

What is the difference between Mormons and Christians?

Mormons claim to believe the whole Bible as well, but also have The Book of Mormon, which is primarily what they are structured on. Both religions claim to believe that Christ came to earth, died, and resurrected on the third day. One extensive difference between the two is that Mormons believe that your life here on earth is a constant act of good works until Christ returns.…

What is the Christian history?

According to MacCulloch, Christian history is a story which was told and believed by Jesus’ disciples. He calls Christianity a “personality cult” in which he describes Jesus as a historical figure who was admired and present as God by the early believers. The Christian story is long enough with two millennia for historians to study, …

What does the Incarnation teach us?

Incarnation teaches us that Jesus was fully human, yet divine. This is the only time in our Christian history were humanity is encompassed with divinity (Powell, 2008, p. 317). The one thing that God is not is what He had become; a human being, but in the process He never stopped being God. Through Jesus Christ, God underwent suffering to become relatable to mankind (Powell, 2008, p. 317). Philippians 2:6-7 explains to believers, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.…

Why do Christians believe the Bible is true?

Christians believe the scriptures to entirely true due to the fact that it answers the key questions to humanity that science and other theorists fail to answer. Such as the creation of the earth and its existence, also the purpose of mankind and the reason for living. Another important aspect to Christianity is contemporizing the word and what it says and making it applicable in this present day. By implementing the word of God to answer controversial topics and relevant issues such as homosexuality. By trusting that the Bible is without mistake and is God’s word, if God says something is wring and mankind should not do it, people ought to listen to the creator.…

Does Brunner believe in the Bible?

While He rightly points out that “Christians come from the Bible” and that all Christian faith grows from the Bible, Brunner barely skims over other religions, despite the massive problems in their doctrine (7). If Brunner would have explained this better, he could have further solidified his point that the Christian God is the true God of the…