Christianity: the One, the Many: What Christianity Might Have Been and Could Still Become Volume 1, Volume 1Xlibris Corporation, 14 feb 2008 - 390 pagina's What is Christianity? Who was Jesus Christ? What relevance does Christianity have in a post-Christian age? Why are there so many Christian sects, and what are the prospects for bringing them together? Does Christianity have a future? Am I a Christian? Are you? The two volumes of Christianity: the One, the Many, offer encouraging answers and options for modern spiritual seekers. This first volume focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus and the evolution of Christianity over its first millennium. The institutional church of the Middle Ages imposed standardized beliefs and practices in place of the spontaneity and pluralism of apostolic times. But standardization was never complete, and alternative religious forms survived. The Gnostic, Celtic, Coptic, and Cathar Churches represent important variants. Finally, in the 11th century, mainstream Christianity split into western and eastern branches. The organizational structure, clerical roles, doctrines and religious practices of the medieval church are studied in some detail, laying groundwork for the examination of western Christianity in Volume 2. The major variants are discussed, as well as the development of the Eastern Orthodox Churches through modern times. The exploration of religious forms that may be less familiar to western readers provides a glimpse into how Christianity as a whole might have developedand directions it could take in the future. Insertion of little-known facts helps bring the historical survey alive. A masterpiece of research, insight and faith A must-read for believers and nonbelievers alike. Now I know theres a place in Christianity for me |
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Alexandria Antioch apostles Arianism Assyrian Church Augustine Augustine of Hippo authority baptism became believed bishops Bogomils Byzantine canon Cathars Catholic Celts Chapter Christianity’s church fathers claimed clergy communities Constantinople Council Council of Nicaea disciples discussed divine doctrine Early Christian Eastern Orthodox Ekklesia emperor epistles esoteric Eucharist faith fourth century Gnostic God’s gospels Greek HarperCollins healing heaven Hebrew heresy heretics Holy Spirit human Ignatius of Antioch Irenaeus James Jerusalem Jesus Jesus Christ Jewish Jews John Judaic Judaism King later Latin liturgical Luke mainstream Christianity Mandaeans Manichaeism Mary Magdalene Matthew medieval Middle Ages missionaries Mithraism monasteries monastic monks mystery mystical Nag Hammadi Library original Orthodox Church Palestine papal patriarch Paul Paul’s Paulicians Peter Pope prayer priests referred religion religious resurrection ritual role Rome sacraments sacred saints scholars scripture second century sect secular Sophia soul teachings Tertullian Testament texts theologians theological Thomas tradition Transl translated Trinity western women