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Alvin J. Schmidt

Under the Influence: How Christianity Transformed Civilization Hardcover – May 1, 2001

by Alvin J. Schmidt (Author), Paul L. Maier (Foreword)

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Western civilization is becoming increasingly pluralistic, secularized, and biblically illiterate. Many people today have little sense of how their lives have benefited from Christianity’s influence, often viewing the church with hostility or resentment.Under the Influence is a topically arranged Christian history for Christians and non-Christians. Grounded in solid research and written in a popular style, this book is both a helpful apologetic tool in talking with unbelievers and a source of evidence for why Christianity deserves credit for many of the humane, social, scientific, and cultural advances in the Western world in the last 2,000 years. Photographs and timelines enhance each chapter.Some unrecognized contributions of Christianity include: * Bringing sanctity to human life by opposing the Greco-Roman practices of abortion, infanticide, child abandonment, and suicide * Raising the level of sexual morality and giving dignity to family life * Giving freedom and dignity to women * First founding hospitals in the 4th century * Originating universities and higher education * Bringing dignity and honor to labor * Spawning and developing modern science * First condemning slavery and inspiring its abolition * Producing major contributions to art, architecture, music, and literature

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From the Back Cover

Under the Influence is a topically arranged Christian history for Christians and non-Christians. Grounded in solid research and written in a popular style, this book is both a helpful apologetic tool in talking with unbelievers and a source of evidence for why Christianity deserves credit for many of the humane, social, scientific, and cultural advances in the Western world in the last 2,000 years. Photographs and timelines enhance each chapter.

Some unrecognized contributions of Christianity include: * Bringing sanctity to human life by opposing the Greco-Roman practices of abortion, infanticide, child abandonment, and suicide * Raising the level of sexual morality and giving dignity to family life * Giving freedom and dignity to women * First founding hospitals in the 4th century * Originating universities and higher education * Bringing dignity and honor to labor * Spawning and developing modern science * First condemning slavery and inspiring its abolition * Producing major contributions to art, architecture, music, and literature

About the Author

Alvin J. Schmidt [Ph.D., University of Nebraska) retired in 1999 as professor of sociology at Illinois College. He has contributed to numerous journals and is the author of several books. He lives in Jacksonville, IL.

Hardcover: 423 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; 1st Printing edition (May 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310236371
ISBN-13: 978-0310236375
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.5 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
Average Customer Review: 14 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #182 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > History
- #240 in Books > History > World > Civilization & Culture
- #432 in Books > History > World > Religious > Christianity

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Thorough Overview of Christianity's Influence on Civilizatio

June 4, 2001

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Schmidt adequately looks at the various cultural segemets that Christianity has shaped over the centures.
Broad in his sweep, he looks at people transformed, sanctity of human life, sexual morality, view of women, charity/compassion, hospitals and health care, education, labor and economic freedom, science, liberty and justice, slavery, art and architecture, music, literature, and holidays and words.
This is an excellent commentary on the deconstruction of history to write Christian influence out. Especially revealing to most in our times would likely be in area of science. Kepler, Copernicus, etc. were all adamant Christians. Contemporary writers like to portray the church as hostile to their scientific discoveries. However, as Schmidt points out, not all of the church held this view. That's the side of the story they don't tell, but Schmidt does.
Fascinating reading. Well documented and written. Reader will glean much insight from this worthy book.

26 people found this helpful

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Roger Herrington

An indispensable text in the history of Christianity

September 13, 2002

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

One cannot have a complete understanding of world history of the history of Christianity without having read this book. Schmidt pulls together the much-neglected cohesion of Christian contributions to world history. At a time when Christianity-bashing is a favorite sport within the pluralistic/relativist/ political correct crowd, one must not let the ignorance of this important aspect of history die of neglect. Schmidt also goes on to correct many myths that have been perpectuated regarding Christian history. By placing them into their proper historical context, the final outcome isn't as strange as we've been led to believe. This is one book that I couldn't put down.

10 people found this helpful

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George

Finally the faith strikes back with simple truth

July 16, 2002

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Dr. Schmidt has given us something with substance to read in order to be proud of being a Christian. His background makes him a expert in observing society and understanding its trends and dirctions.
In a world of cultural confusion and everything goes, he makes you sit back and realize that if the modern pagans succeed in erasing Christian influence from society, all that will follow will be the muck and mire our ancestors fought so hard to escape from.
Society today in its "Post Christian" age is already showing signs of marked decline. how sad they have not realized that the good old days were not prechristian.

11 people found this helpful

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Glenn A

This book is well worth reading for any Christian or non-Christian alike

January 17, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The used book arrived just fine and has been a wonderful addition to my library. I've nearly finished it and found it very illuminating. It can be used to help formulate an apologetics argument for Christianity, or simply to educate oneself.

One person found this helpful

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Jack Stanley

Very Interesting Book

May 14, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I do not agree with all of the Author's other books but this one is well done and reasonably documented. It describes the influence of Christianity on society over the last 2000 year. A good read.

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Amazon Customer

Great read! I would highly recommend

August 25, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great read! I would highly recommend.

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W. Nugent

bookreview

February 6, 2010

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book contains a wealth of rarely discussed historical facts that show the immense beneficial influence of Christianity on western civilization.

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Paul Rye

Scholarship Not Very Convincing

June 10, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

As much as I sympathize with the thesis, the author seems more like a cheerleader for Christianity than a scholar of history or religion. I put it down after just a few pages but it did not seem objective and thus it was not convincing. I tried a few more pages here and there from different chapters. Same problem.

There must be books out there that make a better, more scholarly case for the points the author tried to make, but in my opinion the target audience for this one is the choir.

4 people found this helpful

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Under the Influence: How Christianity Transformed Civilization Hardcover – May 1, 2001

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