A New History of Christianity

A New History of Christianity
By Vivian Green, 1996-1998

(read in 2002)

This very densely written overview of the Christianity covers nearly 2000 years in 400 pages. However, nearly half of the book covers the period from 1800-1998. Thus, though it is intrinsically written as a historical overview, in the end it takes a more theological focus. However, it does steer clear of a heavy doctrinal bias in order to present an objective overview of the many different Christian sects. Unfortunately, there are insufficient details concerning the historical basis for the launching of the various sects. It also was incredibly lacking in the history of the very early Christian church. (What had been happening in the three hundred years leading up to Constantine’s conversion to Christianity? How did the hierarchy evolve in that time?) The coverage of the medieval church also lacks detail. This is arguably the time in which the church had the most profound influence across Europe, yet there is very little space devoted to this period. (There is only a quick glossing over the crusades.) The book also suffers from an English focus, with an undo amount of space devoted to the British church, and very little devoted to Eastern churches.