Introducing Christianity

I've been formally trained in Christian theology over the last few years and I am just your typical, radical Jesus loving dude who would still be filled with love for God without all that education, but I'm grateful for it nonetheless. Sometimes I wonder how people can learn all the stuff I've been taught in a quicker, more straight forward way. THIS IS WHERE THIS BOOK COMES IN. I have recommended it to a few people, as I feel it basically covers the gist of anything I've studied during my vocational training.

Great overview of the history of the growth and development of the Christian faith without espousing a very left or right leaning theology.

This is the simplest and most accessible introduction to Christianity I have found. I use it for my religion classes. It is generous toward the many different denominations within the Christian Tradition. As a mainstream Evangelical I am comfortable with its description of other denominations while it yet maintains a usual Protestant analysis. The book is more descriptive than analytical and therefore does not mean to be theological. It describes the different churches "from the outside", as a visitor would see it and refrains from theological rumination. It thereby gives up any real grasp of dominant theological themes that run through the New Testament, like the now and not yet of Pauline eschatology, union with Christ, etc. But I have found that the students are appreciative of this volume. they feel like they have learned something. I do have trouble with the authors' assertion that women leaders were removed from leadership structures of the early church as patriarchy reasserted itself in the church. No proof - just assertion without evidence. I actually do not believe this is true and felt the authors were in "grinding an axe" territory.

good