a history of christianity diarmaid macculloch review

a history of christianity diarmaid macculloch review插图

goodreads.comImage: goodreads.comDiarmaid MacCulloch’s Christianityis such a book. Breathtaking in ambition, it ranges back to the origins of the Hebrew Bible and covers the world, following the three main strands of the Christian faith. Christianity will teach modern readers things that have been lost in time about how Jesus’ message spread and how the New Testamentwas formed.

Is Diarmaid MacCulloch a secularist?

Diarmaid MacCulloch “does not conceal his preference for secularism.” CWR’s sister publication, Homiletic Pastoral Review, has a number of new book reviews posted, including a lengthy review of Diarmaid MacCulloch’s best-selling 2010 book, Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years.

Is MacCulloch’s history of Christianity an acceptable history?

It offers an acceptable history of Christianity for someone new to the subject but precious little to anyone who has already done some reading in the area. MacCulloch is a specialist on the birth of the Church of England.

What do you think about the book MacCulloch?

Most of the book is, by nature, extrapolation based on a very fragmented set of documents and conflicting histories, but MacCulloch is always overanxious to undermine Christianity by taking huge leaps of speculation and is never, at least that I saw in the first 150 pages, willing to

Is there a book on the history of Christianity?

And obviously that’s an unreasonable ask in even a big book on the history of 2000 years. The title provides an early indication that the Ancient Greek and Hebrew roots of Christianity are covered by this book in addition to the past two thousand years that are more commonly accepted as the era of Christianity.

What is the book Diarmaid MacCulloch?

Diarmaid MacCulloch’s Christianity is such a book. Ambitious, it ranges back to the origins of the Hebrew Bib. The author of The Reformation returns with the definitive history of Christianity for our time. Once in a generation a historian will redefine his field, producing a book that demands to be read–a product of electrifying scholarship …

What is the definition of early missionary work in northern Europe?

The discussion of early missionary work in northern Europe describes the adoption of Christianity as more of a group experience than decisions made by individuals. Those who experienced the event generally described it with words such as, “accepted” or “submitted” rather than “conversion.”.

What is the theme of the story of MacCulloch?

Though MacCulloch is too even-handed to build a cumulative argument out of this story, the theme that emerges for me is the constant interplay between Christianity’s interior, metaphorical truths, and the factual historicity of the information by which such truths have been communicated. This is related to a crucial duality present from the very start.

What was MacCulloch’s last book?

The son of an Anglican clergyman, MacCulloch writes with feeling about faith. His last book, The Reformation, was chosen by dozens of publications as Best Book of the Year & won the Nat’l Book Critics Circle Award. This inspiring follow-up is a landmark new history of the faith that continues to shape the world.

What was the advantage of Christianity everywhere?

The author goes on to say: “Christianity everywhere had a big advantage in being associated with the ancient power that obsessed all Europe, Imperial Rome. The Latin speaking church became a curator of Roman-ness. That is a paradox since Jesus had been crucified by a Roman provincial Governor and Peter by an Emperor.

What does "don’t study its history" mean?

Honestly, to hold onto the mystery and conviction of a religion: don’t study its history.

What is the code of life?

They form a code of life which is a chorus of love directed to the loveless or unlovable, of painful honesty expressing itself with embarrassing directness, of joyful rejection of any counsel suggesting careful self-regard or prudence. That, apparently, is what the Kingdom of God is like.".

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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.

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Who is Diarmaid MacCulloch?

Diarmaid MacCulloch is professor of the History of the Church in the theology faculty at St Cross College, Oxford. Professor MacCulloch proclaims himself a skeptic, although he writes with the zeal of an apostate. His is a paradoxical mixture of both skepticism and appreciation of religion, especially Christianity.

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Who wrote a celebrated Enlightenment-era history in seven volumes?

He says that Edward Gibbon, who wrote a celebrated Enlightenment-era history in seven volumes, 4 “had a fine eye for the absurdities and tragedies that result from the profession of religion.” 5 The author does not conceal his preference for secularism. One can say that MacCulloch is a thoughtful, post-Enlightenment writer who knows more about Christianity than most Christians, including the clergy. Yet another reason for us to posit that faith is a gift, although we must observe that, some without this gift, at times strenuously defend the Church and the Christian tradition. 6