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Rating: 
Summary: Highly Recommended, Despite Key Omissions!
Review: A few years ago, my wife and I were looking for a book on the history of Christianity to help us in homeschooling our teenaged son. What made this a bit challenging is that my wife is a Protestant, and I had recently become an Orthodox Christian, so we wanted a book that treated our respective traditions objectively and with respect.My wife came home from a conference sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International with a copy of "The Story of Christianity." Since I'd seen textbooks in Protestant Christian schools with a not-so-subtle anti-Catholic bias, and that treated the Orthodox as virtually non-existent, I viewed this title with suspicion. The first thing that began to set me at ease was that it had been written by two scholars, one Roman Catholic and the other Protestant. I figured that they would at least show respect for each other's traditions, which I quickly found to be true. Next, I began taking a close look at the opening chapters dealing with early Church history, covering "The Roots of Christianity" (starting in the Old Testament) and going to "The Conversion of Europe" (including the Great Schism of 1054). What I found was an objective, fair treatment of the early days in both the East and the West, when there was general agreement throughout the Church on orthodoxy, as well as the tragic differences that developed due to cultural problems (such as language differences and poor communication, political shifts (such as moving the capital from Rome to what became known as Constantinople), and differences of opinion on the role of the papacy. With the final split in 1054, any hope of reconciliation ended with the Crusades from the West and the sack of Constantinople in 1204. From this point on, the book takes on a spirit of bi-partisanship as it develops the history of Christianity in the West, giving a scant two pages per chapter to the Eastern Orthodox, covering the next 1000 years. While this beautiful volume might mainly be of interest to readers from the West, with its emphasis on the development of the Catholic Church and the many denominations of Protestantism, through the shortcoming of omission, many readers may be left with the impression that--since Eastern Orthodox worship is virtually unchanged in 1700 years--not much else has gone on in the East either. However, if one pays attention to the captions and sidebars, the reader discovers tidbits about the East that deserve greater treatment than it gets here. One caption on "An Orthodox View of the Trinity" mentions the theological debate on the Trinity, which surrounds the statement in the Nicene Creed about the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father, but the text fails to amplify the controversy surrounding the filioque ("and the Son") added by the West, without the approval of an Ecumenical Council. One also learns from other captions that "throughout the medieval period, the standard of education was far higher in Constantinople than in the West," or "for 1000 years Constantinople had been the home of the finest Greek scholars." If the Renaissance and Reformation get dozens of pages, why not the glorious Orthodox Byzantine Empire, the longest lasting empire in history? Why not spend more pages on the accomplishments of those fine Greek scholars? Another caption states, "In the early 1700s missionaries from the Russian Orthodox church became active through the harsh region of Siberia," telling further how these efforts extended to Alaska in 1794 and "all the way down to San Francisco." This is an amazing missionary story that has yet to be read by most Westerners! Brief mention is also made of Peter the Great's efforts to Westernize Russia, and in the process he almost dismantled the Russian Orthodox Church, the very institution that brought unity to this great, and vast, nation. I'm also afraid that Western readers will be left with the impression that Orthodox Christians remain in the East, overlooking a growing Orthodox presence in the Western hemisphere, beginning with immigrant groups from Eastern Europe, as well as Arab Christians, but now attracting Westerners (like me) who have discovered the rich tradition of spirituality and worship within Orthodoxy. The omissions in this book are too numerous to mention in detail, but don't get me wrong, I like this book! It's beautifully layed out, in the style of Dorling Kindersly's popular Eyewitness books, with colorful prints, drawings, maps and photographs on every page. In my opinion, this makes this volume superior to most Christian history textbooks. Also, I do think it treats all three major traditions respectfully, just not equally or proportionately. I would still recommend that this book be in every Christian home (yes, even Orthodox), as it helps us to understand one another better. It would be attractive on a coffee table, and it is conducive to browsing. It would also be a welcome addition to church and school libraries...
Rating: 
Summary: A great story...
Review: DK Publishing, who have the past few years been building a reputation for accessible, beautifully-illustrated and well-organised survey books, have produced another good volume by Michael Collins and Matthew A. Price. Drawing heavily on artwork contemporary with the historical period being covered, Collins and Price supplement the imagery with texts and other artwork gives a visual sense of the text (for instance, we have no contemporary portraits of Judas Maccabeus, so a painting from Paul Rubens - painted a millennium-and-a-half later - is used; however, Alexander the Great had many contemporary statues and images left, so these are used to show him). DK books have an interesting organisation, that reminds me of a web page -- perhaps this is a deliberate intention on their part. Every page has a full-colour image. Every page has a side-bar, a separate box highlighting an important idea, event or person. Every page leads the reader through short pieces that connect well to a larger theme. Given the increasing short-attention span of many readers (even those who like to read), this kind of book can be useful at drawing people in and keeping them interested. I give kudos to Collins and Price for including a significant chapter on Global Christianity. So many histories of Christianity end in the European/North American arena, with only lip service paid to other part of the world. Apart from this chapter, which covers theology and practice in the non-Eurocentric Christian churches, the authors pay attention to developments outside western Europe through the two millennia of history. Collins, a Catholic, and Price, a Protestant, have managed to be very inclusive of the wide spectrum of Christian belief and practice. I regret that an Orthodox scholar was not included in this collaboration. - The Roots of Christianity
This section explores the Jewish roots of Christianity, the Old Testament, and aspects of the wider cultural influences of Hellenism and the Roman Imperial structures. It continues up to New Testament times. - Church & Empire
This section explores the church from the earliest days of uneasy life in the Roman Empire. It explores problems the church had with wider society as well as many of the early issues that confronted Christian unity, a unity that would make it through these times of turmoil, but would ultimately not endure. - Christian Empire
From the time of Constantine, the church assumed a different character, first as a protected and permitted faith, and finally as the dominant religious power in the empire. - The Conversion of Europe
From the time of the fall of the Roman Empire to the turn of the first millennium, Europe underwent various struggles, internal and external, including barbarians from the East and followers of the new religion, Islam, from the South. - Crusades to Renaissance
The clash between Christendom and Islamic powers resulted in the Crusades. Scandinavian countries were converted, but Christianity's outreach was blocked by geographically and by Islam in the South and East. It was also during this period that Constantinople fell, and the major centre of Orthodoxy came under the control of Islamic sultans. - The Reformation
The Reformation had many faces, and took different character in various countries in Europe. This is where many Christian denominations trace their historical/philosophical roots away from the Catholic church, and the Catholic church in response to the Reformation incorporated major reforms, as well. - Enlightenment & Revival
Christianity and science come into conflict during the Enlightenment, yet many zealous preachers and missionaries take to the field, which includes an ever-growing world that includes colonies on every continent on earth. - Mission & Revolution
In America, many populist religious movements formed, largely in response or by encouragement of the revolution for independence. Around the world, Christianity was grappling with revision of Enlightenment ideals as a changing society thanks to the industrial revolution. - The Global Church
From World War I forward, the character of almost everything in the world has changed, and Christianity has had to adapt in many ways. Every denomination has seen reforms (some radical and fundamental) and the second millennium closes on hopeful notes for Christian cooperation, if not unity, all the while the era of Christendom has truly ended, as two-thirds of the world are non-Christian. How will Christianity adapt as a minority voice in world affairs, after having had centre stage or at least a major voice in the chorus for so long? One bias of the book is that it intends very clearly to celebrate Christian history, as the subtitle suggests. Various of the nastier bits of Christian history, therefore, tend to get neutralised in their treatment (the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc.). I would hope there would be a bit more confession on the part of an institution that expects confession and repentance of everyone else. To err is human (perhaps the most human thing!) -- let us not try to avoid facing the errors of the past. I also question certain statements, such as: 'Meanwhile, as Europe recovered from centuries of war and invasion, Christianity inspired a flourishing of art and learning that led to the Renaissance.' Christianity's role in supporting the Renaissance is a decidedly mixed one. It was at times as much of a hindrance, and I feel it is probably an overstatement to attribute the Renaissance to Christianity. This book presents the major figures, major events and timelines in Christian history in a language and presentation that makes it accessible to high school and undergraduate students, makes it useful as a companion to parish Bible studies and Christian education programmes, while still maintaining a level of detail and narrative that would please more clerical and scholarly tastes.
Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed this book
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I had been searching for a good illustrated book on Christianity. I always liked Dorling Kindersley books and so when I saw this I had to get it. I am a teacher, and am teaching a course on Christianity. The text in this book is lively and engaging. In addition the illustrations are marvellous. What is most useful is the way the book manages to give a birdseye view of twenty centuries in which Christianity played such a pivotal role. An excellent book. When are the authors going to bring out another one? Ray
Rating:
Summary: a colorful read
Review: I really liked this book as it is so colorful. A lot of history books fall down because they have very poor presentation. I am interested in art as well and I found the illustration really helpful. Another thing I liked about the book is that one author is a priest and the other a layman, a Protestant. Yet the two really gel well together. I have a new respect for the variety of Christianity and the influence it had on our culture and civilisation. Just to think, without the popes, America would not be geographically the way it is today.
I wish there were more in the book. Hopefully the paperback will have more. One last thing. This book is in no way designed or written to convert anybody. It is a scholarly, yet popular presentation of the largest religion in the world.
Full marks and a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Just to say how much I enjoyed this book. I got it as a Christmas present, and I am reading it, and enjoying it so much. The thing I like about it is that the text is simple and the pictures are really interesting. The graphics are great. It gives you an overview of the history of Christianity which I find so useful. I highly recommend this book which I have heard is already translated into several languages.
Rating:
Summary: This box is lacking the Orthodox Christian Input.
Review: Since the Orthodox Christian Church exsisted before the Roman Catholic Church and way before the Protestant church I find it odd that the Orthodox input was omitted. Are the authors afraid of the true church which is the same today as it was 2000 years ago???!!! To prove that that the Orthodox input was needed just look at page seven of this book. The picture a the top center of the page is printed in reverse. The Greek letters to the right and left of the SAVIOR's head should be IC and XC. Also the Savior is always depicted with the GOSPEL in his left hand not his right. This is additional proof that the picture is printed backwards. I just opened the book and this jumped out at me. When you reprint the book please get the Orthodox Christian input. Other then this the book has a lot of possibilities
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, lavshly illustrated, comprehensive, a must!
Review: This amazing book has absolutely delighted me. The obvious good feeling between a Catholic Priest and a lay protestant has given birth to a super overview of the history of Christianity. It is beautifully written, visually stùnning and a must read not only for those well versed in their religion but for those still seeking to enhance their knowledge. Kudos to the authors|
Rating:
Summary: Rontgen Isaac
Review: This is an Excellent Contemporary Book of Christian History during and after JESUS CHRIST. It also highlights the various Christian events that took place that shaped the world and resulted in Christianity being the Predominant Faith in the World. The Book is concise and has vivid colour illustrations to show the various events. These qualities make the book unique.
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring book!
Review: While it's written to be a Reference book, I couldn't put it down! I read the entire book, including the marginal notes, over two days. It was fascinating reading, and I am in awe of how much research these gentlemen had to go thru to assemble such an enormous history! Equally impressive was how fairly they treated all of the different Protestant faiths.
Lastly, while I attend an Assemblies of God church, I have gained more respect for the Catholic church, as well as other denominations. I feel more 'connected' to other Christian faiths, and see how little really divides us. It definately kept me awake all night -- feeling full of joy!
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