The Christian World - (Modern Library Chronicles) by Martin Marty (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"A whirlwind tour of the history of Christianity . . . [Martin] Marty draws on his deep historical knowledge, and the quirky details he inserts paint a lively picture of Christianity's spread."
-The Christian Science Monitor

"Only Martin Marty, with his extraordinary range of historical understanding, could have written this masterful account of the Christian world."
-Elaine Pagels, author of The Gnostic Gospels

"A vitally important book: Christianity has never been a more global religion than it is today, yet here we can see how global it has always been. . . . Marty writes with whimsical accessibility, the passion of a believer and the critical eye of a hard-nosed skeptic."
-Publishers Weekly

"An effective combination of erudition and accessibility."
-Kirkus Reviews

"A real achievement . . . a rich, multilayered narrative."
-The Globe and Mail

About the Author

Martin Marty has written a number of seminal works on religion, and has received some seventy-five honorary doctorates. His awards include the National Book Award, the National Humanities Medal, and the Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He lives in Chicago with his wife.