Description
Book SynopsisNow in its fourth edition, this bestselling textbook (over 125,000 copies sold) isolates key events that provide a framework for understanding the history of Christianity. The book presents Christianity as a worldwide phenomenon rather than just a Western experience. This popular textbook is organized around 14 key moments in church history, providing contemporary Christians with a fuller understanding of God as he has revealed his purpose through the centuries. The new edition includes a new preface, updates throughout the book, revised "further readings" for each chapter, new sidebar content, and study questions. It also more thoroughly highlights the importance of women in Christian history and the impact of world Christianity. Turning Points is well suited to introductory courses on the history of Christianity as well as study groups in churches. Additional resources for instructors are available through Textbook eSources.
Table of ContentsContentsPreface to the Fourth Edition
Introduction:
The Idea of Turning Points and Reasons for Studying
the History of Christianity1. The Church Pushed Out on Its Own:
The Fall of Jerusalem (70)2. Realities of Empire:
The Council of Nicaea (325)3. Doctrine, Politics, and Life in the Word:
The Council of Chalcedon (451)4. The Monastic Rescue of the Church:
Benedict's Rule
(530)5. The Culmination of Christendom:
The Coronation of Charlemagne
(800)6. Division between East and West:
The Great Schism (1054)7. The Beginnings of Protestantism:
The Diet of Worms (1521)8. Church and Nation:
The English Act of Supremacy (1534)9. Catholic Reform and Worldwide Outreach:
The Founding of the
Jesuits (1540)10. The New Piety:
The Conversion of the Wesleys (1738)11. Discontents of the Modern West:
The French Revolution (1789)12. A Faith for All the World:
The Edinburgh Missionary Conference
(1910)13. Mobilizing for the Future:
The Second Vatican Council (1962-65)
and the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (1974)Afterword:
The Character of Christianity and the Search for
Turning PointsStudy Questions
Index
