Christianity - An Introduction

Informationen zum Autor Philip Kennedy teaches theology in the University of Oxford, where he is a Senior Research Fellow at Mansfield College. He is the author of 'A Modern Introduction to Theology: New Questions for Old Beliefs' (2006) and 'Twentieth Century Theologians: A New Introduction to Modern Christian Thought' (2009), both published by I.B.Tauris. Klappentext The Christian faith has the allegiance of one third of the human race. It has succeeded in influencing civilization to such a degree that we now take its existence almost for granted. Yet it might all have been so different. Christianity began with the words and deeds of an obscure village carpenter's son who died a shameful criminal's death at the hands of the Roman occupiers of his country: itself an insignificant outpost of the powerful ruling Empire. The feverish land of biblical Palestine, awash with apocalyptic expectations of deliverance from its foreign overlords, was hardly short of seers and prophets who claimed to be sent visions from God. Yet the followers of this man thought he was different: so different, in fact, that some years after his death and asserted resurrection they scandalously insisted not only that he was sent by God, but that he 'was' God. Many introductions to Christianity are written by Christians, for Christians. This elegant textbook, by contrast, shows that the history of the religion, while often glorious, is not one of unimpeded progress, but something still more remarkable, flawed and human.Christianity began with the words and deeds of an obscure village carpenter's son who died a shameful criminal's death at the hands of the Roman occupiers of his country. This book shows that the history of the religion, while often glorious, is not one of unimpeded progress, but something still more remarkable, flawed and human. Zusammenfassung The Christian faith has the allegiance of one third of the human race. It has succeeded in influencing civilization to such a degree that we now take its existence almost for granted. Yet it might all have been so different. Christianity began with the words and deeds of an obscure village carpenter's son who died a shameful criminal's death at the hands of the Roman occupiers of his country: itself an insignificant outpost of the powerful ruling Empire. The feverish land of biblical Palestine, awash with apocalyptic expectations of deliverance from its foreign overlords, was hardly short of seers and prophets who claimed to be sent visions from God. Yet the followers of this man thought he was different: so different, in fact, that some years after his death and asserted resurrection they scandalously insisted not only that he was sent by God, but that he 'was' God. Many introductions to Christianity are written by Christians, for Christians. This elegant textbook, by contrast, shows that the history of the religion, while often glorious, is not one of unimpeded progress, but something still more remarkable, flawed and human. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of Maps and Illustrations Preface An X-Ray of ChristianityTime-Frame for ChristianityQuick Guide to Common Terms List of AbbreviationsIntroductionPART I ORIGINS AND GROWTH Chapter 1 Jesus and the Mediterranean WorldChapter 2 Ancient ChristianityPART II MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITYChapter 3 The Early Middle Ages 500-1000Chapter 4 The Later Middle Ages 1000-1500PART III DISCOVERY AND DIVERSITYChapter 5 Renaissance and DiscoveryChapter 6 Reformation and RevolutionPART IV ENLIGHTENMENT AND MODERNITYChapter 7 Christianity TransformedChapter 8 Christianity in a Globalized WorldConclusion Recommended Reading Index...

Product details

• Authors: Philip Kennedy
• Publisher: Tauris, I.B.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 22.02.2011
• EAN: 9781848853829
• ISBN: 978-1-84885-382-9
• No. of pages: 360
• Series: I.B.Tauris Introductions to Religion
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity