A comprehensive history of the Catholic Church from its beginnings in Jesus' ministry to its current status in an increasingly secular world.

This history of the Catholic church tells the story of the 2,000-year relationship between Jesus and the believers who have followed him. It is a story of people -- peasants and popes, saints and heretics, martyrs and apostates -- and how the faith has been passed down throughout the ages, generation to generation. The information is concise yet insightful, rendering a complete and accurate portrait of this centuries-old institution.

"Crews explores the story of the Catholic Church in the United States." --Publisher description.

The Catholic Church: A Brief Popular History is an engaging and informative survey of the major people, periods and events in Church history. Designed with the introductory student in mind, the text is both accessible and thorough. An engaging vignette opens each chapter, drawing the reader in by encouraging a personal connection to the people of the time. A chapter overview then signals the material to follow. Throughout the text, sidebars highlight key persons and events, excerpts from primary sources enrich the reading, connections with the Church today add relevance, and end-of-chapter questions prompt reflection and review. Altogether, The Catholic Church: A Brief Popular History provides a solid foundation in major theological themes and prepares students for further study.

Expanded and updated for the new millennium. Covering the life of Christ, the election of Pope Benedict XVI, and everything in between, A Concise History of the Catholic Church has been one of the bestselling religious histories of the past two decades and a mainstay for scholars, students, and others looking for a definitive, accessible history of Catholicism. With a clarity that will appeal to any reader, Thomas Bokenkotter divides his study into five parts that correspond to the major historical and epochal developments in Catholicism. His authoritative, thorough approach takes readers from the Church’s triumph over paganism, through "the sound and fury of renewal," to a new section devoted to such topics as dissent and current developments in the ecumenical movement. Informative illustrations throughout the book, new to this edition, enrich the reader's experience, and the addition of a wide-ranging bibliography increases its value as a sourcebook.

"The more I listen to people, the more I lecture, the more I realize how wide is the gap between the people's understanding of the Church and the Church's historical realities." [Introduction] The author seeks to close this gap by critically exploring such areas as: the rich variety of ministries in the early Church; the Crusades; the piety of the Middle Ages; the challenge of the Reformation; the role of the pope; the rise, fall and recent reinstatement of the diaconate; the changing role of women in the Church; and the origins of various liturgies and popular devotions.