The Christian World: A Global History

By Martin E. Marty

Book Overview

In this cogent volume, historian Martin Marty gives readers of all faiths a brief yet sweeping account of Christianity and how it grew from a few believers two thousand years ago to become the world's largest religion. He depicts the life of Christ and his teachings and explains how the apostles set out to spread the Gospel. With a special emphasis on global Christianity, Marty shows how the religion emerged from its ancestral homeland in Africa, the Levant, and Asia Minor, was imported to Europe, and then expanded from there to the rest of the world. While giving a broad overview, Marty also focuses on specific issues, such as how Christianity attempts to reconcile with the teachings of Christ some of its stances on armed conflict, justice, and dominion. The Christian World is a remarkable testament to how Christ's message has touched human experience everywhere.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812976770
• ISBN13: 9780812976779
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Modern Library
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

brief but thorough summary

This is a brief but thorough summary of the growth and variety of experience and points of view of Christian communities from the beginning to present. Much more than a cursory explore there is enough detail to give a pretty clear picture of the breadth and scope that has been Christianity.

Global Christianity

Marty is the consummate church historian. In this, latest of his publications, he is the insider looking in from the outside. In a sweeping overview he points out that Christianity was a global faith from its inception. From the ancient land of Israel through Asia Minor and North Africa, Christianity rapidly spread through the Mediterranean basin, and thus to Europe, North American, and finally to the global south. Highly recommended for study groups interested in seeing the broad sweep of Christianity. Al Kirk