Christianity's Family Tree Participant's Guide: What Other Christians Believe and Why [Paperback]

Adam Hamilton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2007

This book is excellent for individual reading or can be used as the small group study book for the Christianity's Family Tree DVD based study.

Adam Hamilton is, in my opinion, a national treasure. He embodies the kind of generous orthodoxy so many of us have been dreaming of and praying for. This book provides something truly unique—a kind of orientation to Christianity in its wide array of forms that not only educates but inspires. It’s one of the few books I wish every single Christian would read and share with their friends.
     - Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christian

In this wise and practical book, Adam Hamilton serves as a trusted guide to some of the rich diversity of Christian belief and practice. It is a rare feat to acknowledge differences and distinctiveness appreciatively, and Hamilton does it with exceptional grace and insight.
     - L. Gregory Jones, Dean and Professor of Theology, Duke Divinity School

I love this book. Adam Hamilton teaches us that we are far richer than we know, because the beauty and the fullness of the whole church is ours. Read, learn, and be happy.
     - John Ortberg, author of God Is Closer Than You Think

In this book, Adam Hamilton presents a welcoming, inspiring vision of eight Christian denominations and faith traditions. Comparing the Christian family to our own extended families, he contends that each denomination has a unique, valuable perspective to offer on the Christian faith.

The traditions he examines are Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Pentecostalism, and Methodism. For each group, Hamilton gives a brief history, outlines major beliefs, and describes some things we can learn from that tradition to strengthen our own Christian faith.

Also available is the planning kit for this video-based small-group study Christianity’s Family Tree: What Other Christians Believe and Why.

Adam Hamilton is pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. Named by PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly as one of the top “Ten People to Watch,” Hamilton is the author of numersous video based small group studies and books from Abingdon Press.

For more information about Adam Hamilton's studies, go to www.adamhamilton.cokesbury.com.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

I love this book. Adam Hamilton teaches us that we are far richer than we know, because the beauty and the fullness of the whole church is ours. Read, learn, and be happy.

- John Ortberg, author of God Is Closer Than You Think

About the Author

Adam Hamilton is senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. The Church Report  named Hamilton's congregation the most influential mainline church in America, and PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly identified him as one of the top “Ten People to Watch.” Hamilton is the best-selling and award-winning author of Why? Making Sense of God's Will, 24 Hours that Changed the World, Enough, When Christians Get It Wrong, Confronting the Controversies, Making Love Last a Lifetime, Unleashing the Word, Leading Beyond the Walls, Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic, Christianity and World Religions, Christianity's Family Tree and Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White, all published by Abingdon Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 133 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (August 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687491169
• ISBN-13: 978-0687491162
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Education

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Christianity's Family Tree, October 17, 2007

By 

Scott R. Johnson "former academic librarian" (Conway, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christianity's Family Tree Participant's Guide: What Other Christians Believe and Why (Paperback)

Written in an accessible sytle, Hamilton provides a general history and overview of eight mainline Christian denominations: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican/Episcopalian, Baptist, Pentecostal and United Methodist. With each he provides a short (3-4 page) discussion into the beliefs and practices of that denomination and a model diagram of how that denomination might see itself in Christianity's history. Each chapter has footnotes and there is a bibiography at the end for more indepth reading into each denomination. He does not consider one denomination superior to another--rather that each is "nourished by the same sap, connected to the same trunk, anchored by the same roots." Recommended as a beginning overview of the plethora of Christian denominations.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celebrating the Family Tree, March 31, 2008

By 

D. G. Van Dussen (Springville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christianity's Family Tree Participant's Guide: What Other Christians Believe and Why (Paperback)

I just led a church study group based on this book and its related video series. Adam Hamilton presents the major denominational families respectfully and with insight. He gets at the theological core of each tradition and relates it to his own United Methodism (also the tradition of our group). Each description is enriched by an interview with a representative of that tradition.

This is a great study for those who would like to get beyond "all churches are basically the same," as well as the common, often negative stereotypes people hold. While it is especially useful in a United Methodist context, I believe it would work well in other churches of the Wesleyan tradition and beyond.

Those who enjoy this book would also appreciate Hamilton's study of Christianity and World Religions, which follows a similar format.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christianity's Family Tree, September 15, 2008

By 

Tina Colton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christianity's Family Tree Participant's Guide: What Other Christians Believe and Why (Paperback)

This book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to better understand Christian beliefs and why they vary. I am impressed that the book is written in a positive manner. The author, Adam Hamilton, stresses the effective beliefs and customs of eight Christian denominations that will strenghten us and allow us to know and grow closer to God.