John F. Nash

Christianity: the One, the Many: What Christianity Might Have Been and Could Still Become Volume 1 John F. Nash

Volume 1 (Book ID 43056)
What is Christianity? Who was Jesus Christ? What relevance does Christianity have in a ?post-Christian? age? Why are there so many Christian sects, and what are the prospects for bringing them together? Does Christianity have a future? Am I a Christian? Are you? The two volumes of Christianity: the One, the Many, offer encouraging answers and options for modern spiritual seekers.
This first volume focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus and the evolution of Christianity over its first millennium. The institutional church of the Middle Ages imposed standardized beliefs and practices in place of the spontaneity and pluralism of apostolic times. But standardization was never complete, and alternative religious forms survived. The Gnostic, Celtic, Coptic, and Cathar Churches represent important variants. Finally, in the 11th century, mainstream Christianity split into western and eastern branches.
The organizational structure, clerical roles, doctrines and religious practices of the medieval church are studied in some detail, laying groundwork for the examination of western Christianity in Volume 2. The major variants are discussed, as well as the development of the Eastern Orthodox Churches through modern times. The exploration of religious forms that may be less familiar to western readers provides a glimpse into how Christianity as a whole might have developed?and directions it could take in the future. Insertion of little-known facts helps bring the historical survey alive.
?A masterpiece of research, insight and faith?? ?A must-read for believers and nonbelievers alike.? ?Now I know there?s a place in Christianity for me??

Front cover shows the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, Russia. Photograph courtesy of Helen C. Nash.