Customer Reviews

A Short World History of Christianity

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I've read a few chapters of this book in proof form prior to publication. Mullin's gift is the ability to make history accessible and interesting, while not compromising on scholarly foundations or analytical complexity. His insights into Christian history are new and illuminating, and yet ring with the truth of careful, sound scholarship and analysis. Anyone, be they student, scholar, believer, inquirer or skeptic will find this work challenging, intriguing and very rewarding. Mullin is that rare academic who is brilliant scholar, illuminating teacher, and an excellent writer. This is a great place to begin a study of Christian history or to refresh one's knowledge. This work belongs on the bookshelves of anyone at all interested in the history of Christianity.

There is no force that has had a greater impact on the world than Christianity - and "A Short World History of Christianity" is an examination of the religion's impact as a whole throughout the ages. Starting with the birth of Jesus, it covers the over two millennia that follow, discussing each of the following major topics that the religion has done to change the world. "A Short World History of Christianity" is a must for both world history collections and Christian studies shelves.

This is a well written short history of Christianity.

It reads like a novel.

Try it.

This book, at its best, is poorly written -- stiff, simplistic to the point of being condescending. If you know something of early Christianity, it is barely adequate; the work gets better as the reader and author progress through time. That being said, the view is that if a Christian writer, not an agnostic historian, and this too detracts from the work. There are better short histories of Christianity available -- Martin Marty's work of the same name comes to mind - and if you have an interest in early Christianity, check out the work of Bart Ehrman.