Seeking a book recommendation
Can anyone recommend me what they would consider a good single volume work on the history of the Church? I've already got Küng's Das Christentum. Wesen und Geschichte, plus The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity, and A Short History of Christianity by Stephen Tomkins.
Today was my granddad’s funeral, and it was naturally quite an emotionally exhausting day. For all of you out there who read this blog, whether Christian, atheist, or whatever, do take a few minutes to give thanks for those around you, for your loved ones. They won't always be there.
posted by Chris Tilling @ 10:49 PM
18 comments
18 Comments:
My father died recently. I know well how valuable time is. My sympathies to your family.
My condolensences, Chris – and also to you, Steph. My own dad has been unwell lately, so this is a tender subject for me.
As to your suggestion, I'd also recommend Justo Gonzalez's book, which is now available in a very cheap single-volume hardcover edition.
But if you're after a more doctrinal history, then it's impossible to go past Pelikan's sublime 5-volume work. (It's not as long as it sounds, either: they're five smallish volumes, and a lot of the space is just notes.) Another really excellent history of doctrine is Hubert Cunliffe-Jones, ed., A History of Christian Doctrine (T&T Clark, 1978).
My condolences regarding your grandfather, Chris. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
As per the single volume Church history, I would highly recommend H. W. Crocker's book, Triumph, which is a 2000 Year History of the Church (Forum, 2001). It's extremely well written and engaging, and along the way clears up a number of long held myths and misconceptions about the Catholic Church (not that you ever encountered any of those growing up in England!).
Peace in Christ,
Brant
Philip Schaff - History of the Christian Church
www.ccel.org/s/schaff/history/
About.htm
i really enjoyed Bruce Shelley's 'Church History in Plain Language', very readable and good at highlighting significant connections, i thought.
Chris, I loved Mark Noll's Turning Points. It recognizes you can't get it all in one volume and opts for a novel, rich approach. Less technical than others, but not less helpful for its ease of access.
All peace to you, too, today. Such sad news.
For the first 1,000 years, Henry Chadwick THE EARLY CHURCH (The Penguin History of the Church 1).
2 thumbs up for Pelikan, though. I'm in the middle of volume 3. I should have read these before I made some spiritual decisions/commitments awhile back.
I second the vote for Church History in Plain Language by Shelley. Very sorry to hear about your family's loss Chris
Chris,
I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather. As far as history books go, I would recommend Marty's book: "A Short History of Christianity."
For what it's worth I really disliked Kung's Christianity. It was the opposite of a page-turner and thus it was hard to retain what I did read and see how it all fit together. I felt more like I was reading a list of events and names than a story.
CHURCH HISTORY READING LIST
1) Brian Moynahan's, THE FAITH: A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY by an acclaimed journalist. Bbased on the sections I've read of it he affirms some sort of Christian faith, perhaps Catholicism, but includes both the good and the evils of the church. One reviewer wrote: With more than 100 startling photographs, illustrations, and drawings, he presents an unconventional and sensational chronology that reveals how Christianity has often been its own worst enemy, ending with the statement: "Christianity's self-inflicted wounds still fester."
If you want something more comprehensive try
Philip Schaff - History of the Christian Church, a multi-volume set that's pretty good, and also includes the blemishes. Note his discussion of Calvinist Geneva, the Thirty Years War, and also the conflicts between Reformed Protestants as well.
http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/history/About.htm
Also try...
History Of Dogma (7 Vol)by Adolf Harnack http://www.ccel.org/h/harnack/?show=worksBy
Or try skimming just the titles of books on each of my amazon.com "Christian History" lists below, arranged by historical period. Simply skimming the titles of these fascinating books (and reading some of the more well informed or scholarly reviews of each) will light up your brain:
Xn Hist--Roman Empire
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/29D0NPXQG98M0/ref=cm_reg_rd-upd?ie=UTF8&msgid=updated
Xn Hist--Medieval
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/14683OYEI66OO/ref=cm_reg_rd-upd?ie=UTF8&msgid=updated
Xn Hist--Renaissance
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/QXGYFWKP2VII/ref=cm_reg_rd-upd?ie=UTF8&msgid=updated
Xn Hist--Reformation
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/HX4VS7Y6MIYG/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go
Xn Hist--Enlightenment Era
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2S30XZ7X8BWGK/ref=cm_reg_rd-upd?ie=UTF8&msgid=updated
Xn Hist--Victorian Era
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2Q5Q84UGB0H4N/ref=cm_reg_rd-upd?ie=UTF8&msgid=updated
Xn Hist--Modern Day
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/32CRX1PG4RF3D/ref=cm_reg_rd-upd?ie=UTF8&msgid=updated
Cheers!
Eusebius' History of the Church is obviously required reading. Apart from that, I recently ordered from abebooks The History of the Christian Church During the First Ten Centuries by Philip Smith. It's a late 19th-century work with the right amount of depth and detail without getting bogged down.
Thankyou all for your kind words and suggestions. I went to London today armed with a list of the mentioned books ... and didn't find one in any shop (except Joel's), which was a real pity.
Steph, my sincere condolences to you and your family at this time.
Likewise, Ben, I pray your dad pulls through.
This might not be exactly what you are looking:
The History of Christian Thought by Jonathan Hill
Hi Chris,
My condolences about your grandfather.
I recommend David Chidester, 'Christianity: A Global History' (Penguin, 2001).
Blessings to you and your family.
On the Reformation I really like Robert Linder's new textbook.
Mark
It seems a bit vain to site oneself, but here's the link to my review of Linder's The Reformation Era:
http://alterfaith.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/religious-wars/
Thanks a bunch for these suggestions, I'll chase them up.
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