Christianity: A Short Global History

by Frederick W. Norris

Overview

Ofeering unique coverage of the growth of Christianity in Asia, Africa, and South America, as well as in the western world, this accessible guide balances solid scholarship with penetrating analysis. Frederick W. Norris considers not only the geographical and social growth of the Christian tradition, but also the manner in which the practices and doctrines at the heart of the faith have developed and changed over the centuries. This authoritative account also offers: detailed information on such key events as the emergence of Islam, the Crusades, and the nature of missionary activity in Africa and India coverage of the historical development of Christianity in China and the Far East insight into the meeting and mingling of the Christian tradition and other cultures across the world As both an indispensible guide to the history of the Christian faith since the first century AD, and an inquisitive exploration of how religion relates to cultural, national, and social identity, this book will inform and stimulate students, scholars, and general readers alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781851682966
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	05/01/2002
Series:	From Buddhism to Sufism Series: Concise Introductions Ser.
Pages:	316
Sales rank:	316,988
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Frederick W. Norris is the Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History and Professor of World Mission/Evangelism at Emmanuel School of Religion in Tennessee, USA. He is an expert in mission history and theology, and the author of five books and numerous papers.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 Little-known to persecuted minority: beginnings to 313
2 Persecuted and persecuting, 300-630
3 Endangered at the centre, moving north-west and eastT, 630-1100
4 Crusades to the near-extinction of Asian Christians, 1100-1500
5 Conquest reformation and indigenous growth 1433-1600
6 Weakened Christendom and European Enlightenment, 1600-1800
7 Western missionary expansion, 1800-1920
8 Post- Christendom west , non- Westen Christians 1900-2000

Editorial Reviews

a stimulating read.-- "Studies in World Christianity"

concise, highly readable, replete with insightful analyses of Christianity's interaction with other cultures-- "International Bulletin of Missionary Research"

meticulously researched and richly detailed.-- "International Bulletin of Missionary Research"

valuable and timely addition to this body of literature-- "International Bulletin of Missionary Research"

The writing is crisp, lucid, and pithy, providing for a stimulating read.-- "Anglican Theological Review"

There's plenty of food for thought though as the whole 'warts and all' story is told-- "World Mission Magazine"

This book splendidly assists the reader in understanding the richness of the Christian experience-- "Anglican Theological Review"

This is not a dry work of history-- "Studies in World Christianity"

From the Publisher

"valuable and timely addition to this body of literature"

International Bulletin of Missionary Research

"There's plenty of food for thought though as the whole 'warts and all' story is told"

World Mission Magazine

"The writing is crisp, lucid, and pithy, providing for a stimulating read."

Anglican Theological Review

"a stimulating read."

Studies in World Christianity

Do we need yet another short history of Christianity? Probably not, though Norris (church history, Emmanuel Sch. of Religion) is wise to recognize that Christianity is nothing but an abstraction and that attempts to write its history are impossible. The major achievement of this book, which is part of a series on world religions (e.g., Klaus K. Klostermaier's Hinduism: A Short History, among others), is that unlike other histories it goes beyond the Western world to place Christian traditions in their Asian, African, and Latin American contexts. As Norris documents, Christianity did not have one victory after another, and he describes all its failures and near annihilations. The book follows no strict chronology, but topics on the early and medieval periods outnumber those for the modern period. In attempting to cover all the data available, the book abounds in overgeneralizations. It will be of value to libraries already committed to completing this multicultural series on the history of world religions, but as a single volume it is inadequate. Brian Moynahan's The Faith: A History of Christianity is a good one-volume option, although it is certainly not short-James A. Overbeck, Atlanta-Fulton P.L., GA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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