Christianity: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Paperback]

Linda Woodhead (Author)

Book Description

Series: Very Short Introductions | Publication Date: September 1, 2005

At a time when Christianity is flourishing in the Southern Hempisphere but declining in much of the West, Linda Woodhead offers a bold new overview of the world's largest religion, exploring the cultural and institutional dimensions of Christianity over two millennia.
Christianity addresses topics that other books neglect, for example the competition for power between different forms of Christianity, the churches' uses of power, and their struggles with modernity. Woodhead also considers the recent charismatic explosion of Christianity in Latin America, Africa, and the Far East. She concludes by showing the ways in which those who previously had the least power in Christianity--women and non-Europeans--have become increaslingly central to its unfolding story.
Up-to-date, authoritative, and filled with fresh insights, Christianity: A Very Short Introduction brings a vast and varied subject into sharp focus

Editorial Reviews

Review

`her analysis is subtle and perceptive.' Independent on Sunday

About the Author

Linda Woodhead is Senior Lecturer in Christian Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at Lancaster University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192803220
• ISBN-13: 978-0192803221
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read overview of (historical development of) different types of christian religions, June 22, 2007

By 

GPK (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christianity: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

This is a review of "Christianity - a very short introduction" by Linda Woodhead. I found this book fitting very well in the Oxford University Press vsi series: it is brief and after reading it my understanding of the topic has increased a lot.

Throughout the book the author uses a scheme to categorize the different types of religions. One axis describes where ultimate authority is located (god, ratio enlightened by god, or subjective experience), and the other axis to which power is attributed (church, scripture, or mystical). Then she continues describing the historical development and coming into existence of these different versions of Christianity. I found this way a good way to familiarize myself with the various types of belief. Also discussed are the reasons why certain type are more popular than others, and how this has changed over time and in different regions.

Finally, the writing style of the book is what I would call 'plain and normal English, appealing to common sense' making the book very accessible. There are also books that are clearly written in a style appealing only to readers who are already familiar with the topic and share the authors belief (i.e. jargon), but this book does not fall into that category. And I think this is good and fitting the purpose of the vsi series.

Recommended!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Covers Alot of Ground, August 1, 2006

By 

Rick Rowland (Glen Allen, Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christianity: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

I can't comment on the theological or academic veracity of this book, nor can I be objective in my review of it (I am a Church/Mystical Christian under Ms. Woodhead's typology). However, I can say that the author covers alot of ground in less than 200 pages, including basic Christian theology and history, its relation to prevailing political, social and economic factors, and its current situation and future prospects. On several subjects, I feel that the author advocates her personal agenda. However, this doesn't affect the overall quality of the book. I recommend it to those who want a short, general introduction to this topic.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Resource, December 11, 2010

By 

Sally Nabulsi (CAMBRIDGE, MA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christianity: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Great introductory book. Very Simple. It does not cover all there is to know about Christianity. But it is interesting to read the author's point of view. This book is very short, and ideally should be complemented with another book.