Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Investigations into the in fight of the early church, 11 Jun 2008
This book covers the history from the beginning of Christianity until the 6th century AD.
First all the early different mainstream directions are described until finally during the 4th century AD the orthodox win and rewriting history.
But after Constantine's support and Nicaea 325 AD the in-fight gets even more severe, a mix of political bickering, who is nearer to the emperor is mixing with theological interpretations. Doctrinal discussions about the duality of father and son, the `one substance' interpretation and later including the Holy Ghost as trinity are explained.

Henry Chadwick is describing all the political power play, intrigues and corruption.
- Bishop's still mainstream this year are considered heretic soon after, often not based on doctrinal differences
- The fight between Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome or Antioch versus Alexandria all for the influence and leadership of the holy sea.
- -Alliances of Bishops from one area to unseat another Bishop and gain power.
- Fighting for imperial favor is decided which Bishop is just happened to be nearer to the emperor's wife.
- The split of Greek speaking eastern churches versus the Latin speaking western churches.
- Decisions on doctrinal issues are often made from the emperor
- Split between West and east Rome and different political events and outcome of wars adding to the picture
Mix all this and the history becomes worse or more complicated like a TV soap.
This book `the early church' of the insights of Church power plays is a good combination with B. Ehrman's `Lost Christianities' which focus on the doctrinal contents.


Concise, Pithy Account of Early Church History, 14 Mar 2008
As one who is an avid reader of Church history, I can say that this is the best volume of early Church history I have read. Henry Chadwick's account of the rise of Christianity, from its roots in Judaism to its decisive break from the mother religion, is weighty, concise and clear.

He explains how the early Christians saw themselves as Jews but that the decisive break came when they (the Christians) accepted Gentiles into the new movement. Thereafter, Chadwick explores the spread of Christianity in the Near East and eventually how it made its way to Rome. This is pretty standard stuff so far.

What I liked about the book was the explanation of the different Christological positions in the controversies surrounding the question of Christ's nature. It is in Chadwick's book that I understood Arius and Arianism, Nicene confessions, Chalcedonian Christianity, Monophysitism and Nestorianism. These controversies, which seem drab and overly punctilious to modern readers, were, as Chadwick points out, one of the reasons for the eventual split of the Church into Latin and Orthodox Christianities.

The book is not just a boring academic tome. He enlivens the book with lively descriptions of the Church Fathers; Ambrose, Tertullian and the key characters (and politics) in the Christological consipiracies. If you are interested in understanding the rise of Christianity in the Ancient World and want a readable account of the abstruse, high-falutin Christological terms that have come to define Christian doctrine then this book is a must-read. It deserves my 5 stars.

A Great History Of The Early Chruch!, 06 Jan 2007
"The Early Church" provides the reader with an excellent history of the first six centuries of Christianity. Author Henry Chadwick covers structural and doctrinal development, along with the rise and fall of heresies and introductions to the leading characters of the period.

This excellent book provides an overview of so many things which casual students of Church history probably heard of but may not have really understood. From my reading of this book I have a better understanding of early heresies including Arianism (Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father), Donatism (no reconciliation with apostates) Manichaeism (a secret, gnostic type sect) and Pelagianism (denial of original sin). The role of councils, such as Nicaea, in combating heresy and guiding the development of orthodoxy is made clearer. A greater understanding of the roles of the Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. Jerome and St. Augustine is gained by the reader of this book.

From a theological or historical perspective this book is a treasure. One test I apply to books is whether they inspire me to study more. This one does. I am confident that it will do the same for you.


The Early Church: a tug of war?, 02 Sep 2005
This is a good overall guide to the early Christian church. It is well written and easily readable, without needing a deep previous understanding. At times I did find the layout slightly confusing, as you seem to approach the same events in numerous 'thematic' chapters, rather than using a "time-line" approach. However, the reader does get a feeling of the way the issues at the time were affecting the church, especially of the conflicts that existed between East and West.

A good starter from people just interested in the subject or a good revision for those already knowledgable in the subject!

Perfect balance, 19 Apr 2005
Can't complain about it at all, it covers everything in just enough detail to familiarize you with the different elements of the period, and leaves you informed as to which areas you'd like to read in more detail.

Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Investigations into the in fight of the early church, 11 Jun 2008
This book covers the history from the beginning of Christianity until the 6th century AD.
First all the early different mainstream directions are described until finally during the 4th century AD the orthodox win and rewriting history.
But after Constantine's support and Nicaea 325 AD the in-fight gets even more severe, a mix of political bickering, who is nearer to the emperor is mixing with theological interpretations. Doctrinal discussions about the duality of father and son, the `one substance' interpretation and later including the Holy Ghost as trinity are explained.

Henry Chadwick is describing all the political power play, intrigues and corruption.
- Bishop's still mainstream this year are considered heretic soon after, often not based on doctrinal differences
- The fight between Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome or Antioch versus Alexandria all for the influence and leadership of the holy sea.
- -Alliances of Bishops from one area to unseat another Bishop and gain power.
- Fighting for imperial favor is decided which Bishop is just happened to be nearer to the emperor's wife.
- The split of Greek speaking eastern churches versus the Latin speaking western churches.
- Decisions on doctrinal issues are often made from the emperor
- Split between West and east Rome and different political events and outcome of wars adding to the picture
Mix all this and the history becomes worse or more complicated like a TV soap.
This book `the early church' of the insights of Church power plays is a good combination with B. Ehrman's `Lost Christianities' which focus on the doctrinal contents.


Concise, Pithy Account of Early Church History, 14 Mar 2008
As one who is an avid reader of Church history, I can say that this is the best volume of early Church history I have read. Henry Chadwick's account of the rise of Christianity, from its roots in Judaism to its decisive break from the mother religion, is weighty, concise and clear.

He explains how the early Christians saw themselves as Jews but that the decisive break came when they (the Christians) accepted Gentiles into the new movement. Thereafter, Chadwick explores the spread of Christianity in the Near East and eventually how it made its way to Rome. This is pretty standard stuff so far.

What I liked about the book was the explanation of the different Christological positions in the controversies surrounding the question of Christ's nature. It is in Chadwick's book that I understood Arius and Arianism, Nicene confessions, Chalcedonian Christianity, Monophysitism and Nestorianism. These controversies, which seem drab and overly punctilious to modern readers, were, as Chadwick points out, one of the reasons for the eventual split of the Church into Latin and Orthodox Christianities.

The book is not just a boring academic tome. He enlivens the book with lively descriptions of the Church Fathers; Ambrose, Tertullian and the key characters (and politics) in the Christological consipiracies. If you are interested in understanding the rise of Christianity in the Ancient World and want a readable account of the abstruse, high-falutin Christological terms that have come to define Christian doctrine then this book is a must-read. It deserves my 5 stars.

A Great History Of The Early Chruch!, 06 Jan 2007
"The Early Church" provides the reader with an excellent history of the first six centuries of Christianity. Author Henry Chadwick covers structural and doctrinal development, along with the rise and fall of heresies and introductions to the leading characters of the period.

This excellent book provides an overview of so many things which casual students of Church history probably heard of but may not have really understood. From my reading of this book I have a better understanding of early heresies including Arianism (Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father), Donatism (no reconciliation with apostates) Manichaeism (a secret, gnostic type sect) and Pelagianism (denial of original sin). The role of councils, such as Nicaea, in combating heresy and guiding the development of orthodoxy is made clearer. A greater understanding of the roles of the Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. Jerome and St. Augustine is gained by the reader of this book.

From a theological or historical perspective this book is a treasure. One test I apply to books is whether they inspire me to study more. This one does. I am confident that it will do the same for you.


The Early Church: a tug of war?, 02 Sep 2005
This is a good overall guide to the early Christian church. It is well written and easily readable, without needing a deep previous understanding. At times I did find the layout slightly confusing, as you seem to approach the same events in numerous 'thematic' chapters, rather than using a "time-line" approach. However, the reader does get a feeling of the way the issues at the time were affecting the church, especially of the conflicts that existed between East and West.

A good starter from people just interested in the subject or a good revision for those already knowledgable in the subject!

Perfect balance, 19 Apr 2005
Can't complain about it at all, it covers everything in just enough detail to familiarize you with the different elements of the period, and leaves you informed as to which areas you'd like to read in more detail.

Rational analyses ..., 20 Oct 2005
Max Weber (1864-1920) had noticed that Protestants appeared excessively under the numbers of people who economically were successful. The Catholicism seemed to make it easier (due to an integrated sin pardon mechanics) to enjoy life in between times. The Mediterranean countries have saved this as a differentiable lifestyle till nowadays, but particular the Nordic, by the majority Protestant countries put the human beings into a hermetic box of duty fulfillment and responsibility. The suicide installment is also higher in these areas: Unfortunately, Luther's theological revolution was not namely a liberation, no reduction of control but its millionfold multiplication: In the end everyone became the merciless inspector of himself. The reformation has increased the pressure extremely. Now mixed religious aims and working actions were bound each other with the visibility of financial success. Other religions, the Buddhism, the Islam etc., seem strikingly less in conformity with the capitalism in this regard. On the contrary: Being obstinate or disinterested seem to be transported rather. The Calvinistic capitalism on the other hand produces (besides all superficial correctness) a subtle social coldness, a fight of everybody against everybody, which promotes the assumption, that there is not enough space in the paradisiacal sky for everyone at all. Therefore the fear of being not preferred later on by the dear God starts a hitting and fighting between the human beings vehemently. Being religious in this manner has not contributed to humanness, but, instead, made some steps backward globally, regarding the great individual sovereignty, which the renaissance man already had achieved. Face of the fact, that (at the moment) a second theocracy seems to spread himself apparently in the USA -- at least in the opinion of the ones who sit at the decisive Washington coordinating points -- in the face of such developments among the conservative Christians of the USA, which surpass many a nastiness of the frowned Machiavellism or the elite oriented Darwinism, yes even the racism -- in view of such developments it seems recommended to examine the rational analyses of Max Weber again ...

Revewing the revew..., 29 Nov 1998
I think it's a revew on the revew you've got there, as it shows a little misunderstanding of Max Weber plan. He wills not to turn Marx upside-down, therefore falling into some kind of idealism, but instead, he trys to complicate Marx thesis, in the way he understands it, sayng that causality is much wider than materialistic, and ideas can have "elective afinities" with interests. Both authors do not exclude each other, but can be used to criticise one anohter.

Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Investigations into the in fight of the early church, 11 Jun 2008
This book covers the history from the beginning of Christianity until the 6th century AD.
First all the early different mainstream directions are described until finally during the 4th century AD the orthodox win and rewriting history.
But after Constantine's support and Nicaea 325 AD the in-fight gets even more severe, a mix of political bickering, who is nearer to the emperor is mixing with theological interpretations. Doctrinal discussions about the duality of father and son, the `one substance' interpretation and later including the Holy Ghost as trinity are explained.

Henry Chadwick is describing all the political power play, intrigues and corruption.
- Bishop's still mainstream this year are considered heretic soon after, often not based on doctrinal differences
- The fight between Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome or Antioch versus Alexandria all for the influence and leadership of the holy sea.
- -Alliances of Bishops from one area to unseat another Bishop and gain power.
- Fighting for imperial favor is decided which Bishop is just happened to be nearer to the emperor's wife.
- The split of Greek speaking eastern churches versus the Latin speaking western churches.
- Decisions on doctrinal issues are often made from the emperor
- Split between West and east Rome and different political events and outcome of wars adding to the picture
Mix all this and the history becomes worse or more complicated like a TV soap.
This book `the early church' of the insights of Church power plays is a good combination with B. Ehrman's `Lost Christianities' which focus on the doctrinal contents.


Concise, Pithy Account of Early Church History, 14 Mar 2008
As one who is an avid reader of Church history, I can say that this is the best volume of early Church history I have read. Henry Chadwick's account of the rise of Christianity, from its roots in Judaism to its decisive break from the mother religion, is weighty, concise and clear.

He explains how the early Christians saw themselves as Jews but that the decisive break came when they (the Christians) accepted Gentiles into the new movement. Thereafter, Chadwick explores the spread of Christianity in the Near East and eventually how it made its way to Rome. This is pretty standard stuff so far.

What I liked about the book was the explanation of the different Christological positions in the controversies surrounding the question of Christ's nature. It is in Chadwick's book that I understood Arius and Arianism, Nicene confessions, Chalcedonian Christianity, Monophysitism and Nestorianism. These controversies, which seem drab and overly punctilious to modern readers, were, as Chadwick points out, one of the reasons for the eventual split of the Church into Latin and Orthodox Christianities.

The book is not just a boring academic tome. He enlivens the book with lively descriptions of the Church Fathers; Ambrose, Tertullian and the key characters (and politics) in the Christological consipiracies. If you are interested in understanding the rise of Christianity in the Ancient World and want a readable account of the abstruse, high-falutin Christological terms that have come to define Christian doctrine then this book is a must-read. It deserves my 5 stars.

A Great History Of The Early Chruch!, 06 Jan 2007
"The Early Church" provides the reader with an excellent history of the first six centuries of Christianity. Author Henry Chadwick covers structural and doctrinal development, along with the rise and fall of heresies and introductions to the leading characters of the period.

This excellent book provides an overview of so many things which casual students of Church history probably heard of but may not have really understood. From my reading of this book I have a better understanding of early heresies including Arianism (Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father), Donatism (no reconciliation with apostates) Manichaeism (a secret, gnostic type sect) and Pelagianism (denial of original sin). The role of councils, such as Nicaea, in combating heresy and guiding the development of orthodoxy is made clearer. A greater understanding of the roles of the Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. Jerome and St. Augustine is gained by the reader of this book.

From a theological or historical perspective this book is a treasure. One test I apply to books is whether they inspire me to study more. This one does. I am confident that it will do the same for you.


The Early Church: a tug of war?, 02 Sep 2005
This is a good overall guide to the early Christian church. It is well written and easily readable, without needing a deep previous understanding. At times I did find the layout slightly confusing, as you seem to approach the same events in numerous 'thematic' chapters, rather than using a "time-line" approach. However, the reader does get a feeling of the way the issues at the time were affecting the church, especially of the conflicts that existed between East and West.

A good starter from people just interested in the subject or a good revision for those already knowledgable in the subject!

Perfect balance, 19 Apr 2005
Can't complain about it at all, it covers everything in just enough detail to familiarize you with the different elements of the period, and leaves you informed as to which areas you'd like to read in more detail.

Rational analyses ..., 20 Oct 2005
Max Weber (1864-1920) had noticed that Protestants appeared excessively under the numbers of people who economically were successful. The Catholicism seemed to make it easier (due to an integrated sin pardon mechanics) to enjoy life in between times. The Mediterranean countries have saved this as a differentiable lifestyle till nowadays, but particular the Nordic, by the majority Protestant countries put the human beings into a hermetic box of duty fulfillment and responsibility. The suicide installment is also higher in these areas: Unfortunately, Luther's theological revolution was not namely a liberation, no reduction of control but its millionfold multiplication: In the end everyone became the merciless inspector of himself. The reformation has increased the pressure extremely. Now mixed religious aims and working actions were bound each other with the visibility of financial success. Other religions, the Buddhism, the Islam etc., seem strikingly less in conformity with the capitalism in this regard. On the contrary: Being obstinate or disinterested seem to be transported rather. The Calvinistic capitalism on the other hand produces (besides all superficial correctness) a subtle social coldness, a fight of everybody against everybody, which promotes the assumption, that there is not enough space in the paradisiacal sky for everyone at all. Therefore the fear of being not preferred later on by the dear God starts a hitting and fighting between the human beings vehemently. Being religious in this manner has not contributed to humanness, but, instead, made some steps backward globally, regarding the great individual sovereignty, which the renaissance man already had achieved. Face of the fact, that (at the moment) a second theocracy seems to spread himself apparently in the USA -- at least in the opinion of the ones who sit at the decisive Washington coordinating points -- in the face of such developments among the conservative Christians of the USA, which surpass many a nastiness of the frowned Machiavellism or the elite oriented Darwinism, yes even the racism -- in view of such developments it seems recommended to examine the rational analyses of Max Weber again ...

Revewing the revew..., 29 Nov 1998
I think it's a revew on the revew you've got there, as it shows a little misunderstanding of Max Weber plan. He wills not to turn Marx upside-down, therefore falling into some kind of idealism, but instead, he trys to complicate Marx thesis, in the way he understands it, sayng that causality is much wider than materialistic, and ideas can have "elective afinities" with interests. Both authors do not exclude each other, but can be used to criticise one anohter.

A strong attack on Christian fundamentalism but a feeble apologetic for atheism, 06 Apr 2008
This is an absorbing and highly readable account. It's a serious study (tho with humour), written in a clear, accessible style. Rather than a book in defence of atheism, however, this book is a staunch attack on evangelical fundamentalism. Almost all of Mill's arguments are against Christian fundamentalist beliefs rather than a pure reasoning of his own belief that there is no god. Further, it makes virtually no mention of any other religion than Christianity; and even here, it focuses purely on the evangelical stream of that faith. Thus its value is limited.

Mills' chapters on science are well argued, e.g. his study on the origins of the universe, the 'planetary clockwork' of our solar system, and his defence of evolution (two chapters). Mills also includes some good reading on the implausibility of souls suffering in an eternity of hellish agony, and on Christians' 'selective observation' of answered prayers. I would love all 'born-again' Christians to consider the points Mills makes in these pages.

I personally am a committed Christian, yet share Mill's annoyance at much of the naivety and shallow-thinking that so many evangelical believers hold to. Indeed, I could list many more such points that Mills doesn't mention! Christians can certainly be extremely naive and obnoxiously insistent that THEIR interpretations of the Bible are the only true interpretations, and that they therefore MUST be right. Such intolerant attitudes are indeed horribly off-putting, and if these had anything to do with turning Mills and others away from their evangelical faith, then the Church has much to be ashamed of. It's easy to see why many find evangelicalism so unattractive in many ways.

But please note that not all evangelicals are fundamentalists. I have a very deep and intimate faith in Jesus Christ, but I am NOT a fundamentalist (although I confess, that like Mills, I used to be). I do not believe the Bible is inerrant, and I certainly don't believe it is all to be taken literally. The Bible requires serious critical study to understand what parts were meant to be taken literally and what is meant to be figurative. It's not a matter of personal choice, but of careful academic study.

Thus, I, like many evangelicals I know, do NOT hold to 6-day creationism, nor that all non-believers will be sent to a life of eternal suffering (however, to insist that any form of 'hell' is a myth is presumptuous). But I do believe that Jesus Christ can give new life to all who are truly willing to die to self; I believe He guides and protects us, gives wonderful purpose to life, hears and answers prayers, and gives a most profound peace, joy and hope.

There are a considerable number of statements in Mill's book that I believe are incorrect or are gross generalisations which simply do not hold true for many Christians. He states that 'historically, the Church fought venomously against each new scientific advance' but fails to state that many of these advances were in fact made by Bible-believing Christians! Mills is quick to note various inhumanities committed by 'devout believers', e.g. the burning of witches in centuries past, but makes no specific mention of the MILLIONS slaughtered by committed atheists such as Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, or Kim Sung of North Korea (to name a few). Mills fails to mention that the most atheistic nation in the world (North Korea) is also that with perhaps the most pathetic record of human rights abuses - not 300 years ago, but TODAY.

The author also makes a number of contradictions; such as stating that most Christians live 'very unfulfilling lives' of miserable guilt (p56) - yet admitting that he had 'an exceptionally happy childhood' as 'a typical believer in the Baptist faith'! (p74) I also think that the entire chapter devoted to fundamentalists' views on the danger of internet porn hardly constitutes a solid evidence of atheism! (nor, for that matter, does his chapter on the Constitution of America!). Perhaps Mills was running out of arguments.

But a more serious criticism of the book is the author's failure to give positive reasons for the validity of atheism, rather than his constant attacks on fundamentalism. He completely fails to show what genuine meaning there is to life for an atheist. He simply refers to 'hobbies and interests' which keep people 'maximally happy' (p55)! He goes into no depth whatever on the meaninglessness of life generally or in particular. This is a terrible omission I know of no atheist who lives out what they believe. An atheist believes that a human is simply a (complex) bundle of chemicals with no real purpose. A lump of dog dirt, or a rat, falls into the same category. But what human lives as though he's not more important than a lump of dog foul or a rat. We each live as if our OWN life is very important (if you don't believe that, try pointing a 'live' pistol at someone's head and note their reaction). Atheists live a contradiction, but none are willing to admit it. Mind you, Nietsche at least ATTEMPTED to live out the reality of his atheism and the meaninglessness of his own existence, and I admire him for it. But what happened? - he went insane. He couldn't do it - it's impossible. Mills fails to discuss the soul-less implications of atheism. Ultimately, if Mills had spent far more time explaining the reasons and the consequences of his own atheistic beliefs, instead of simply rubishing evangelicals' views, then this book would have been far more worthy. As it is, however, it does make a thought-provoking read.

So many atheists believe that unless something is scientifically verifiable, then it should not be taken seriously. It's a well-worn point, but who can scientifically verify the reality of love? Yet, it's one of the most vital ingredient in a human's life. And it's the central tenet of the Christian faith (whether or not we all practise it as we should). God is love. He, too, is scientifically unverifiable, but as millions of people who have received His love unspeakable can testify, He, too, is very very real.


Courageous and honest, 11 Apr 2007
I gave it 4 stars because this book is written for an american audience and page after page it was clear that the majority of europeans would find some parts banal compared to similar books written by author such as R.Dawkins, D.Dennet or AC Grayling.
It is fair to the author that he has not got the academic credentials of the three above and I still hold my hat to his intellectual honest and courage as living in US nowadays for an atheist is not an easy thing.
To sum-up it is a good addition in the library and a quite enjoyable book that is often hilarious in various part.

A positive response to religious dogma, 22 Jan 2007
If you are considering ordering this book, may I offer a word of warning? The original book was published in 2004. A revised edition with a chapter on Intelligent Design was produced in 2006. I nearly ordered the older edition. It is worth taking a little care, here.

The first chapter of the book is in a question and answer format. In fact, it is compiled from a number of radio interviews. This sets the scene and gently eases you into the remainder of the book.

The author suggests that the remaining chapters can be taken in any order. They can be considered as separate, self-contained essays. I think it would be worth reading chapter two before going down this route. In fact, I tackled the book in the order in which it is presented.

Reading Karl Popper's `The Open Society and Its Enemies' I can remember the sense of excitement as Marxism was systematically demolished before my eyes. There was a sense that there was no opportunity for recovery from such a devastating intellectual attack. Maybe this book isn't quite in the same league but it does share something in common. Is there any way back from here?

Of course, Marxists aren't likely to be reading Popper and Christians aren't likely to be reading David Mills! So both authors will probably find themselves `preaching to the converted' to some degree. It would be nice to imagine the `scales falling from the eyes' of people reading this book but that is probably expecting too much.

As mentioned above, this new edition includes a chapter on the theory of Intelligent Design. The author tackles this issue on two fronts. The first is to reveal its scientific inadequacy. The second is to point out that it represents a heretical cult which deviates so far from Christian orthodoxy that, in the unlikely event that it wins a battle, it will undoubtedly lose the war.

An excellent book - substantial and well reasoned.

Most thought provoking book I've ever read, 26 Feb 2006
This is a fantastic book, brilliantly researched, full of intelligent, thought provoking and logical explanations to 'Life, the Universe and Everything'. I truly believe this book is as near as I will ever get to finding the answers. I could not put this book down and I shall re-read it many times, the great shame is that so few people will ever find this book.

A good starting point, 01 Oct 2005
I can recommend this book to anyone who has never bought a book on athiesm before. I've found that it gave me the answers to the questions that i've always asked myself, and yet known were logical, but that i was unable to explain previously. The writter must be congratulated on putting together a book which is easy to read, and enjoyable!!

Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Investigations into the in fight of the early church, 11 Jun 2008
This book covers the history from the beginning of Christianity until the 6th century AD.
First all the early different mainstream directions are described until finally during the 4th century AD the orthodox win and rewriting history.
But after Constantine's support and Nicaea 325 AD the in-fight gets even more severe, a mix of political bickering, who is nearer to the emperor is mixing with theological interpretations. Doctrinal discussions about the duality of father and son, the `one substance' interpretation and later including the Holy Ghost as trinity are explained.

Henry Chadwick is describing all the political power play, intrigues and corruption.
- Bishop's still mainstream this year are considered heretic soon after, often not based on doctrinal differences
- The fight between Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome or Antioch versus Alexandria all for the influence and leadership of the holy sea.
- -Alliances of Bishops from one area to unseat another Bishop and gain power.
- Fighting for imperial favor is decided which Bishop is just happened to be nearer to the emperor's wife.
- The split of Greek speaking eastern churches versus the Latin speaking western churches.
- Decisions on doctrinal issues are often made from the emperor
- Split between West and east Rome and different political events and outcome of wars adding to the picture
Mix all this and the history becomes worse or more complicated like a TV soap.
This book `the early church' of the insights of Church power plays is a good combination with B. Ehrman's `Lost Christianities' which focus on the doctrinal contents.


Concise, Pithy Account of Early Church History, 14 Mar 2008
As one who is an avid reader of Church history, I can say that this is the best volume of early Church history I have read. Henry Chadwick's account of the rise of Christianity, from its roots in Judaism to its decisive break from the mother religion, is weighty, concise and clear.

He explains how the early Christians saw themselves as Jews but that the decisive break came when they (the Christians) accepted Gentiles into the new movement. Thereafter, Chadwick explores the spread of Christianity in the Near East and eventually how it made its way to Rome. This is pretty standard stuff so far.

What I liked about the book was the explanation of the different Christological positions in the controversies surrounding the question of Christ's nature. It is in Chadwick's book that I understood Arius and Arianism, Nicene confessions, Chalcedonian Christianity, Monophysitism and Nestorianism. These controversies, which seem drab and overly punctilious to modern readers, were, as Chadwick points out, one of the reasons for the eventual split of the Church into Latin and Orthodox Christianities.

The book is not just a boring academic tome. He enlivens the book with lively descriptions of the Church Fathers; Ambrose, Tertullian and the key characters (and politics) in the Christological consipiracies. If you are interested in understanding the rise of Christianity in the Ancient World and want a readable account of the abstruse, high-falutin Christological terms that have come to define Christian doctrine then this book is a must-read. It deserves my 5 stars.

A Great History Of The Early Chruch!, 06 Jan 2007
"The Early Church" provides the reader with an excellent history of the first six centuries of Christianity. Author Henry Chadwick covers structural and doctrinal development, along with the rise and fall of heresies and introductions to the leading characters of the period.

This excellent book provides an overview of so many things which casual students of Church history probably heard of but may not have really understood. From my reading of this book I have a better understanding of early heresies including Arianism (Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father), Donatism (no reconciliation with apostates) Manichaeism (a secret, gnostic type sect) and Pelagianism (denial of original sin). The role of councils, such as Nicaea, in combating heresy and guiding the development of orthodoxy is made clearer. A greater understanding of the roles of the Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. Jerome and St. Augustine is gained by the reader of this book.

From a theological or historical perspective this book is a treasure. One test I apply to books is whether they inspire me to study more. This one does. I am confident that it will do the same for you.


The Early Church: a tug of war?, 02 Sep 2005
This is a good overall guide to the early Christian church. It is well written and easily readable, without needing a deep previous understanding. At times I did find the layout slightly confusing, as you seem to approach the same events in numerous 'thematic' chapters, rather than using a "time-line" approach. However, the reader does get a feeling of the way the issues at the time were affecting the church, especially of the conflicts that existed between East and West.

A good starter from people just interested in the subject or a good revision for those already knowledgable in the subject!

Perfect balance, 19 Apr 2005
Can't complain about it at all, it covers everything in just enough detail to familiarize you with the different elements of the period, and leaves you informed as to which areas you'd like to read in more detail.

Rational analyses ..., 20 Oct 2005
Max Weber (1864-1920) had noticed that Protestants appeared excessively under the numbers of people who economically were successful. The Catholicism seemed to make it easier (due to an integrated sin pardon mechanics) to enjoy life in between times. The Mediterranean countries have saved this as a differentiable lifestyle till nowadays, but particular the Nordic, by the majority Protestant countries put the human beings into a hermetic box of duty fulfillment and responsibility. The suicide installment is also higher in these areas: Unfortunately, Luther's theological revolution was not namely a liberation, no reduction of control but its millionfold multiplication: In the end everyone became the merciless inspector of himself. The reformation has increased the pressure extremely. Now mixed religious aims and working actions were bound each other with the visibility of financial success. Other religions, the Buddhism, the Islam etc., seem strikingly less in conformity with the capitalism in this regard. On the contrary: Being obstinate or disinterested seem to be transported rather. The Calvinistic capitalism on the other hand produces (besides all superficial correctness) a subtle social coldness, a fight of everybody against everybody, which promotes the assumption, that there is not enough space in the paradisiacal sky for everyone at all. Therefore the fear of being not preferred later on by the dear God starts a hitting and fighting between the human beings vehemently. Being religious in this manner has not contributed to humanness, but, instead, made some steps backward globally, regarding the great individual sovereignty, which the renaissance man already had achieved. Face of the fact, that (at the moment) a second theocracy seems to spread himself apparently in the USA -- at least in the opinion of the ones who sit at the decisive Washington coordinating points -- in the face of such developments among the conservative Christians of the USA, which surpass many a nastiness of the frowned Machiavellism or the elite oriented Darwinism, yes even the racism -- in view of such developments it seems recommended to examine the rational analyses of Max Weber again ...

Revewing the revew..., 29 Nov 1998
I think it's a revew on the revew you've got there, as it shows a little misunderstanding of Max Weber plan. He wills not to turn Marx upside-down, therefore falling into some kind of idealism, but instead, he trys to complicate Marx thesis, in the way he understands it, sayng that causality is much wider than materialistic, and ideas can have "elective afinities" with interests. Both authors do not exclude each other, but can be used to criticise one anohter.

A strong attack on Christian fundamentalism but a feeble apologetic for atheism, 06 Apr 2008
This is an absorbing and highly readable account. It's a serious study (tho with humour), written in a clear, accessible style. Rather than a book in defence of atheism, however, this book is a staunch attack on evangelical fundamentalism. Almost all of Mill's arguments are against Christian fundamentalist beliefs rather than a pure reasoning of his own belief that there is no god. Further, it makes virtually no mention of any other religion than Christianity; and even here, it focuses purely on the evangelical stream of that faith. Thus its value is limited.

Mills' chapters on science are well argued, e.g. his study on the origins of the universe, the 'planetary clockwork' of our solar system, and his defence of evolution (two chapters). Mills also includes some good reading on the implausibility of souls suffering in an eternity of hellish agony, and on Christians' 'selective observation' of answered prayers. I would love all 'born-again' Christians to consider the points Mills makes in these pages.

I personally am a committed Christian, yet share Mill's annoyance at much of the naivety and shallow-thinking that so many evangelical believers hold to. Indeed, I could list many more such points that Mills doesn't mention! Christians can certainly be extremely naive and obnoxiously insistent that THEIR interpretations of the Bible are the only true interpretations, and that they therefore MUST be right. Such intolerant attitudes are indeed horribly off-putting, and if these had anything to do with turning Mills and others away from their evangelical faith, then the Church has much to be ashamed of. It's easy to see why many find evangelicalism so unattractive in many ways.

But please note that not all evangelicals are fundamentalists. I have a very deep and intimate faith in Jesus Christ, but I am NOT a fundamentalist (although I confess, that like Mills, I used to be). I do not believe the Bible is inerrant, and I certainly don't believe it is all to be taken literally. The Bible requires serious critical study to understand what parts were meant to be taken literally and what is meant to be figurative. It's not a matter of personal choice, but of careful academic study.

Thus, I, like many evangelicals I know, do NOT hold to 6-day creationism, nor that all non-believers will be sent to a life of eternal suffering (however, to insist that any form of 'hell' is a myth is presumptuous). But I do believe that Jesus Christ can give new life to all who are truly willing to die to self; I believe He guides and protects us, gives wonderful purpose to life, hears and answers prayers, and gives a most profound peace, joy and hope.

There are a considerable number of statements in Mill's book that I believe are incorrect or are gross generalisations which simply do not hold true for many Christians. He states that 'historically, the Church fought venomously against each new scientific advance' but fails to state that many of these advances were in fact made by Bible-believing Christians! Mills is quick to note various inhumanities committed by 'devout believers', e.g. the burning of witches in centuries past, but makes no specific mention of the MILLIONS slaughtered by committed atheists such as Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, or Kim Sung of North Korea (to name a few). Mills fails to mention that the most atheistic nation in the world (North Korea) is also that with perhaps the most pathetic record of human rights abuses - not 300 years ago, but TODAY.

The author also makes a number of contradictions; such as stating that most Christians live 'very unfulfilling lives' of miserable guilt (p56) - yet admitting that he had 'an exceptionally happy childhood' as 'a typical believer in the Baptist faith'! (p74) I also think that the entire chapter devoted to fundamentalists' views on the danger of internet porn hardly constitutes a solid evidence of atheism! (nor, for that matter, does his chapter on the Constitution of America!). Perhaps Mills was running out of arguments.

But a more serious criticism of the book is the author's failure to give positive reasons for the validity of atheism, rather than his constant attacks on fundamentalism. He completely fails to show what genuine meaning there is to life for an atheist. He simply refers to 'hobbies and interests' which keep people 'maximally happy' (p55)! He goes into no depth whatever on the meaninglessness of life generally or in particular. This is a terrible omission I know of no atheist who lives out what they believe. An atheist believes that a human is simply a (complex) bundle of chemicals with no real purpose. A lump of dog dirt, or a rat, falls into the same category. But what human lives as though he's not more important than a lump of dog foul or a rat. We each live as if our OWN life is very important (if you don't believe that, try pointing a 'live' pistol at someone's head and note their reaction). Atheists live a contradiction, but none are willing to admit it. Mind you, Nietsche at least ATTEMPTED to live out the reality of his atheism and the meaninglessness of his own existence, and I admire him for it. But what happened? - he went insane. He couldn't do it - it's impossible. Mills fails to discuss the soul-less implications of atheism. Ultimately, if Mills had spent far more time explaining the reasons and the consequences of his own atheistic beliefs, instead of simply rubishing evangelicals' views, then this book would have been far more worthy. As it is, however, it does make a thought-provoking read.

So many atheists believe that unless something is scientifically verifiable, then it should not be taken seriously. It's a well-worn point, but who can scientifically verify the reality of love? Yet, it's one of the most vital ingredient in a human's life. And it's the central tenet of the Christian faith (whether or not we all practise it as we should). God is love. He, too, is scientifically unverifiable, but as millions of people who have received His love unspeakable can testify, He, too, is very very real.


Courageous and honest, 11 Apr 2007
I gave it 4 stars because this book is written for an american audience and page after page it was clear that the majority of europeans would find some parts banal compared to similar books written by author such as R.Dawkins, D.Dennet or AC Grayling.
It is fair to the author that he has not got the academic credentials of the three above and I still hold my hat to his intellectual honest and courage as living in US nowadays for an atheist is not an easy thing.
To sum-up it is a good addition in the library and a quite enjoyable book that is often hilarious in various part.

A positive response to religious dogma, 22 Jan 2007
If you are considering ordering this book, may I offer a word of warning? The original book was published in 2004. A revised edition with a chapter on Intelligent Design was produced in 2006. I nearly ordered the older edition. It is worth taking a little care, here.

The first chapter of the book is in a question and answer format. In fact, it is compiled from a number of radio interviews. This sets the scene and gently eases you into the remainder of the book.

The author suggests that the remaining chapters can be taken in any order. They can be considered as separate, self-contained essays. I think it would be worth reading chapter two before going down this route. In fact, I tackled the book in the order in which it is presented.

Reading Karl Popper's `The Open Society and Its Enemies' I can remember the sense of excitement as Marxism was systematically demolished before my eyes. There was a sense that there was no opportunity for recovery from such a devastating intellectual attack. Maybe this book isn't quite in the same league but it does share something in common. Is there any way back from here?

Of course, Marxists aren't likely to be reading Popper and Christians aren't likely to be reading David Mills! So both authors will probably find themselves `preaching to the converted' to some degree. It would be nice to imagine the `scales falling from the eyes' of people reading this book but that is probably expecting too much.

As mentioned above, this new edition includes a chapter on the theory of Intelligent Design. The author tackles this issue on two fronts. The first is to reveal its scientific inadequacy. The second is to point out that it represents a heretical cult which deviates so far from Christian orthodoxy that, in the unlikely event that it wins a battle, it will undoubtedly lose the war.

An excellent book - substantial and well reasoned.

Most thought provoking book I've ever read, 26 Feb 2006
This is a fantastic book, brilliantly researched, full of intelligent, thought provoking and logical explanations to 'Life, the Universe and Everything'. I truly believe this book is as near as I will ever get to finding the answers. I could not put this book down and I shall re-read it many times, the great shame is that so few people will ever find this book.

A good starting point, 01 Oct 2005
I can recommend this book to anyone who has never bought a book on athiesm before. I've found that it gave me the answers to the questions that i've always asked myself, and yet known were logical, but that i was unable to explain previously. The writter must be congratulated on putting together a book which is easy to read, and enjoyable!!

A Fly Perched on a Wall..., 31 Oct 2008
One of the beauties of modern scholarship is the relative dexterity with which one can analyse a `foreign' culture or some aspect thereof without the need to immerse oneself completely in it. As a Nigerian, who was brought up in as a Christian, Philip Jenkins' The Next Christendom probes my childhood religious milieu and excels in its analysis of `Southern' i.e. non Euro-American Christianity. In this marvellous book, I could recognise the traditions in which I was raised and how they relate to Western Christianity.

Jenkins' basis premise is that Christianity is no longer a strictly Euro-American religion. He argues that Christianity's centre of gravity has shifted to the Global South i.e. the developing world. The faith has metamorphosed to accommodate non-Western cultures and, in doing so, has prospered beyond David Livingstone's wildest imagination. Professor Jenkins buttresses his main point with ample statistical and demographic evidence. For example, he shows (among other things) that in 2025 only 2 of the 10 countries with the largest Christian communities will be Western (USA and Germany).

Of course statistics do not tell the entire story. Why did non-Western (usually conquered) peoples accept the White Man's religion? The Next Christendom argues that if Christian proselytising in the 19th century was at worst driven by imperialist/racist attitudes to non Europeans, and at best, ignorant paternalism on the part of Europeans, why then did Christianity persist in the Third World after the collapse of the European empires? Jenkins posits that the reasons are varied: from a desire to imitate the West to the all-too-obvious explanation that Africans and Asians came to believe the Christian message.

Jenkins challenges the popular stereotype of Southern Christianity as a reincarnation of deep-seated, pre-Christian religious beliefs. He argues that the assumption underpinning this stereotype is that Western Christianity is the norm. Christianity, a near Eastern religion, adapted to the late Roman world of antiquity. For example, converted pagan temples became the site of some of the great Christian Churches such as St Paul's in London. Indeed, Christianity had become so `inculturated' into Europe that by the sixteenth when Europeans took their faith to non-European peoples, the missionaries naturally assumed that Christianity should reflect their European cultural assumptions. There is no reason why Christianity's age of enculturation should have stopped in the Middle Ages.

How might a world in which the most populous countries (such as Nigeria and Indonesia) are evenly split between Christianity and a resurgent Islam be like? Professor Jenkin's conclusion is a Huntingdonian world in which the borders between Islam and Christianity will be bloody. The future, according to Jenkins, is one in which Islam and Christianity will colour developing country conflicts over everything from access to the benefits of modernisation to social policy. Sadly, the evidence in places like Nigeria and Indonesia largely support Jenkins' conclusion.

Christianity's demographic future is largely in the Global South. Like any responsive multinational corporation, the Churches are actively pursuing this growth market with vigour. According to Jenkins, Southern Christianity is still work in progress; any hopes that a vibrant Southern Christianity will take up `Northern' social issues such as feminism, gay rights, environmentalism etc, will be dashed because the Southern Churches will increasingly be focused on Southern issues.

Despite a severe reversal in its fortunes (at least in the West), Christianity is alive, hale and hearty in the Developing World. The New Christendom illustrates this point with the candour and insight. The New Christendom is a well-researched and richly annotated book. It is not just a dry academic tome; Professor Jenkins seems to have perched on the walls of the churches in downtown Lagos and captured the vibrancy and the hopes of the congregation. What's more, he has put Southern religious expression in its historical and global context.

After reading God's Continent, I had come to expect a very high standard of scholarship from Professor Jenkins. The New Christendom has delivered on all points and them some. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why Christianity is still such a powerful force in the Developing World. I highly recommend this book and it deserves my 4 stars.


All change: the non-Western future of Christianity, 03 May 2008
There's plenty in this painstaking analysis of global Christianity's near future to intrigue. Jenkins' thesis is that the faith's centre of gravity is moving (perhaps has already moved) inexorably away from the so-called `Christian' West towards Africa, Latin America and Asia. Sheer population pressures alone underlie this trend, quite apart from anything else. By 2050, four of the world's largest concentrations of those defining themselves as Christians will, if current rates of growth are sustained, be in the `global south' (Mexico, Philippines, Nigeria and Brazil). This will mean that Western Christianity will have to come to terms with new voices, new expressions of faith - as Anglicans debating the acceptability or otherwise of gay bishops are already discovering. And in fact, as Jenkins shows, this `eruption' of an independent voice from outside the Western world is actually only the latest manifestation of a process that has been underway for some considerable time.

Though he sees this future voice as inevitably more conservative on `personal' moral issues than the Western church has been, Jenkins thinks it is more likely to be radical on socio-economic issues. (There is a strong element of schadenfreude to his funeral elegy for Western `liberal' Christianity, which he clearly - and unfairly in my view - blames for the church's demise in Europe). He also sees a future where the context for reading the Bible is one of persecution, whether due to Islamist intolerance or the repression of governments like China's (though that vast country probably already has more Christians than most European countries put together). Jenkins is fascinating, and he may be right in his predictions. But in the end, it's difficult to shake off the feeling that you're listening to a particular - conservative evangelical - voice, whose certainties drown out other perspectives. It would have been good, on such a large topic, to see those alternative visions and perspectives sketched out too - either as brief, contrapuntal asides or appendices.


A fascinating and thought-provoking book, 02 Dec 2007
This book is an update of Jenkins' ground-breaking book published nearly a decade ago and is still a fascinating and timely read today. The book amply demonstrates that our idea of 'traditional' or 'mainstream' Christianity is the result of the situation of Western European society over the last millennium and is not a true reflection of the current situation. Philip Jenkins reminds us that the Western part of global Christendom is shrinking and its importance, numerically speaking, is waning; the new Christendom will probably consist of the Southern churches - Africa, Asia and South America - whose experience of Christianity is very different than ours. Much of their Christian experience is more akin to the early church with supernatural elements being part of daily life, healings and prophecies common and their concept of culture completely different to ours.

Jenkins provides much statistical evidence to back up his points as well as a thorough discussion of how global Christianity spread through mission work in the past and how it might change in the future. There is much encouragement in this book, mainly in the reminder that Christianity is still a growing religion globally and that perhaps Islam will have less of an effect than we think, but it was also occasionally sobering in discovering that the form of Christianity that many of the Southern churches use is not one that would be a comfortable fit with post-Enlightenment western Christians.

Moving south, 25 Nov 2005
The author establishes that contrary to popular opinion, Christianity is not a European religion. Its origins are outside Europe and it was centuries before its strength was centered in Europe. The future of Chrstianity will be in Africa and Latin America. There is a global shift. Europe faces a bleak, depopulated secular future as far as its native peoples are concerned acording to present trends. Southern Christianity will be charismatic and ethically conservative. The author's prophecies are those of a demographer. He predicts increasing confict between Christians and Muslims.

Prepares you for a new world, 04 Jun 2003
In this fascinating book, professor Philip Jenkins proclaims that there is coming, within this 21st century, a new Christendom. The first chapter looks at the Christian Church of the past, and shows that the popular conception of a Christian West surrounded by a purely non-Christian world is fallacious; that Christianity took root in other parts of the world than Europe, and survived there all the way to the present. After that, the book looks at the spread of Christianity in the so-called "Third World," the same parts of the globe that are experiencing the fastest population growth.

Having (to my satisfaction, anyway) shown that soon many times more Christians will be living in other parts of the globe than Europe *and* North America combined, the author then goes on to suggest that this new phenomenon will potentially change the very face of Christianity. Prepare to see a new Christianity, one as different from the modern, Western Church as the Medieval Church was from the Church of the Roman Empire.

I must say that this is one of the most fascinating books that I have read in a long time! The author punctures many comfortable ideas about the Church, and prepares the reader for the coming of a new world, a world that will not look like the one we have now. If you are interested in Christianity, or even just in trends that are bound to affect the world you live in, then you must get this book!

Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Investigations into the in fight of the early church, 11 Jun 2008
This book covers the history from the beginning of Christianity until the 6th century AD.
First all the early different mainstream directions are described until finally during the 4th century AD the orthodox win and rewriting history.
But after Constantine's support and Nicaea 325 AD the in-fight gets even more severe, a mix of political bickering, who is nearer to the emperor is mixing with theological interpretations. Doctrinal discussions about the duality of father and son, the `one substance' interpretation and later including the Holy Ghost as trinity are explained.

Henry Chadwick is describing all the political power play, intrigues and corruption.
- Bishop's still mainstream this year are considered heretic soon after, often not based on doctrinal differences
- The fight between Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome or Antioch versus Alexandria all for the influence and leadership of the holy sea.
- -Alliances of Bishops from one area to unseat another Bishop and gain power.
- Fighting for imperial favor is decided which Bishop is just happened to be nearer to the emperor's wife.
- The split of Greek speaking eastern churches versus the Latin speaking western churches.
- Decisions on doctrinal issues are often made from the emperor
- Split between West and east Rome and different political events and outcome of wars adding to the picture
Mix all this and the history becomes worse or more complicated like a TV soap.
This book `the early church' of the insights of Church power plays is a good combination with B. Ehrman's `Lost Christianities' which focus on the doctrinal contents.


Concise, Pithy Account of Early Church History, 14 Mar 2008
As one who is an avid reader of Church history, I can say that this is the best volume of early Church history I have read. Henry Chadwick's account of the rise of Christianity, from its roots in Judaism to its decisive break from the mother religion, is weighty, concise and clear.

He explains how the early Christians saw themselves as Jews but that the decisive break came when they (the Christians) accepted Gentiles into the new movement. Thereafter, Chadwick explores the spread of Christianity in the Near East and eventually how it made its way to Rome. This is pretty standard stuff so far.

What I liked about the book was the explanation of the different Christological positions in the controversies surrounding the question of Christ's nature. It is in Chadwick's book that I understood Arius and Arianism, Nicene confessions, Chalcedonian Christianity, Monophysitism and Nestorianism. These controversies, which seem drab and overly punctilious to modern readers, were, as Chadwick points out, one of the reasons for the eventual split of the Church into Latin and Orthodox Christianities.

The book is not just a boring academic tome. He enlivens the book with lively descriptions of the Church Fathers; Ambrose, Tertullian and the key characters (and politics) in the Christological consipiracies. If you are interested in understanding the rise of Christianity in the Ancient World and want a readable account of the abstruse, high-falutin Christological terms that have come to define Christian doctrine then this book is a must-read. It deserves my 5 stars.

A Great History Of The Early Chruch!, 06 Jan 2007
"The Early Church" provides the reader with an excellent history of the first six centuries of Christianity. Author Henry Chadwick covers structural and doctrinal development, along with the rise and fall of heresies and introductions to the leading characters of the period.

This excellent book provides an overview of so many things which casual students of Church history probably heard of but may not have really understood. From my reading of this book I have a better understanding of early heresies including Arianism (Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father), Donatism (no reconciliation with apostates) Manichaeism (a secret, gnostic type sect) and Pelagianism (denial of original sin). The role of councils, such as Nicaea, in combating heresy and guiding the development of orthodoxy is made clearer. A greater understanding of the roles of the Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. Jerome and St. Augustine is gained by the reader of this book.

From a theological or historical perspective this book is a treasure. One test I apply to books is whether they inspire me to study more. This one does. I am confident that it will do the same for you.


The Early Church: a tug of war?, 02 Sep 2005
This is a good overall guide to the early Christian church. It is well written and easily readable, without needing a deep previous understanding. At times I did find the layout slightly confusing, as you seem to approach the same events in numerous 'thematic' chapters, rather than using a "time-line" approach. However, the reader does get a feeling of the way the issues at the time were affecting the church, especially of the conflicts that existed between East and West.

A good starter from people just interested in the subject or a good revision for those already knowledgable in the subject!

Perfect balance, 19 Apr 2005
Can't complain about it at all, it covers everything in just enough detail to familiarize you with the different elements of the period, and leaves you informed as to which areas you'd like to read in more detail.

Rational analyses ..., 20 Oct 2005
Max Weber (1864-1920) had noticed that Protestants appeared excessively under the numbers of people who economically were successful. The Catholicism seemed to make it easier (due to an integrated sin pardon mechanics) to enjoy life in between times. The Mediterranean countries have saved this as a differentiable lifestyle till nowadays, but particular the Nordic, by the majority Protestant countries put the human beings into a hermetic box of duty fulfillment and responsibility. The suicide installment is also higher in these areas: Unfortunately, Luther's theological revolution was not namely a liberation, no reduction of control but its millionfold multiplication: In the end everyone became the merciless inspector of himself. The reformation has increased the pressure extremely. Now mixed religious aims and working actions were bound each other with the visibility of financial success. Other religions, the Buddhism, the Islam etc., seem strikingly less in conformity with the capitalism in this regard. On the contrary: Being obstinate or disinterested seem to be transported rather. The Calvinistic capitalism on the other hand produces (besides all superficial correctness) a subtle social coldness, a fight of everybody against everybody, which promotes the assumption, that there is not enough space in the paradisiacal sky for everyone at all. Therefore the fear of being not preferred later on by the dear God starts a hitting and fighting between the human beings vehemently. Being religious in this manner has not contributed to humanness, but, instead, made some steps backward globally, regarding the great individual sovereignty, which the renaissance man already had achieved. Face of the fact, that (at the moment) a second theocracy seems to spread himself apparently in the USA -- at least in the opinion of the ones who sit at the decisive Washington coordinating points -- in the face of such developments among the conservative Christians of the USA, which surpass many a nastiness of the frowned Machiavellism or the elite oriented Darwinism, yes even the racism -- in view of such developments it seems recommended to examine the rational analyses of Max Weber again ...

Revewing the revew..., 29 Nov 1998
I think it's a revew on the revew you've got there, as it shows a little misunderstanding of Max Weber plan. He wills not to turn Marx upside-down, therefore falling into some kind of idealism, but instead, he trys to complicate Marx thesis, in the way he understands it, sayng that causality is much wider than materialistic, and ideas can have "elective afinities" with interests. Both authors do not exclude each other, but can be used to criticise one anohter.

A strong attack on Christian fundamentalism but a feeble apologetic for atheism, 06 Apr 2008
This is an absorbing and highly readable account. It's a serious study (tho with humour), written in a clear, accessible style. Rather than a book in defence of atheism, however, this book is a staunch attack on evangelical fundamentalism. Almost all of Mill's arguments are against Christian fundamentalist beliefs rather than a pure reasoning of his own belief that there is no god. Further, it makes virtually no mention of any other religion than Christianity; and even here, it focuses purely on the evangelical stream of that faith. Thus its value is limited.

Mills' chapters on science are well argued, e.g. his study on the origins of the universe, the 'planetary clockwork' of our solar system, and his defence of evolution (two chapters). Mills also includes some good reading on the implausibility of souls suffering in an eternity of hellish agony, and on Christians' 'selective observation' of answered prayers. I would love all 'born-again' Christians to consider the points Mills makes in these pages.

I personally am a committed Christian, yet share Mill's annoyance at much of the naivety and shallow-thinking that so many evangelical believers hold to. Indeed, I could list many more such points that Mills doesn't mention! Christians can certainly be extremely naive and obnoxiously insistent that THEIR interpretations of the Bible are the only true interpretations, and that they therefore MUST be right. Such intolerant attitudes are indeed horribly off-putting, and if these had anything to do with turning Mills and others away from their evangelical faith, then the Church has much to be ashamed of. It's easy to see why many find evangelicalism so unattractive in many ways.

But please note that not all evangelicals are fundamentalists. I have a very deep and intimate faith in Jesus Christ, but I am NOT a fundamentalist (although I confess, that like Mills, I used to be). I do not believe the Bible is inerrant, and I certainly don't believe it is all to be taken literally. The Bible requires serious critical study to understand what parts were meant to be taken literally and what is meant to be figurative. It's not a matter of personal choice, but of careful academic study.

Thus, I, like many evangelicals I know, do NOT hold to 6-day creationism, nor that all non-believers will be sent to a life of eternal suffering (however, to insist that any form of 'hell' is a myth is presumptuous). But I do believe that Jesus Christ can give new life to all who are truly willing to die to self; I believe He guides and protects us, gives wonderful purpose to life, hears and answers prayers, and gives a most profound peace, joy and hope.

There are a considerable number of statements in Mill's book that I believe are incorrect or are gross generalisations which simply do not hold true for many Christians. He states that 'historically, the Church fought venomously against each new scientific advance' but fails to state that many of these advances were in fact made by Bible-believing Christians! Mills is quick to note various inhumanities committed by 'devout believers', e.g. the burning of witches in centuries past, but makes no specific mention of the MILLIONS slaughtered by committed atheists such as Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, or Kim Sung of North Korea (to name a few). Mills fails to mention that the most atheistic nation in the world (North Korea) is also that with perhaps the most pathetic record of human rights abuses - not 300 years ago, but TODAY.

The author also makes a number of contradictions; such as stating that most Christians live 'very unfulfilling lives' of miserable guilt (p56) - yet admitting that he had 'an exceptionally happy childhood' as 'a typical believer in the Baptist faith'! (p74) I also think that the entire chapter devoted to fundamentalists' views on the danger of internet porn hardly constitutes a solid evidence of atheism! (nor, for that matter, does his chapter on the Constitution of America!). Perhaps Mills was running out of arguments.

But a more serious criticism of the book is the author's failure to give positive reasons for the validity of atheism, rather than his constant attacks on fundamentalism. He completely fails to show what genuine meaning there is to life for an atheist. He simply refers to 'hobbies and interests' which keep people 'maximally happy' (p55)! He goes into no depth whatever on the meaninglessness of life generally or in particular. This is a terrible omission I know of no atheist who lives out what they believe. An atheist believes that a human is simply a (complex) bundle of chemicals with no real purpose. A lump of dog dirt, or a rat, falls into the same category. But what human lives as though he's not more important than a lump of dog foul or a rat. We each live as if our OWN life is very important (if you don't believe that, try pointing a 'live' pistol at someone's head and note their reaction). Atheists live a contradiction, but none are willing to admit it. Mind you, Nietsche at least ATTEMPTED to live out the reality of his atheism and the meaninglessness of his own existence, and I admire him for it. But what happened? - he went insane. He couldn't do it - it's impossible. Mills fails to discuss the soul-less implications of atheism. Ultimately, if Mills had spent far more time explaining the reasons and the consequences of his own atheistic beliefs, instead of simply rubishing evangelicals' views, then this book would have been far more worthy. As it is, however, it does make a thought-provoking read.

So many atheists believe that unless something is scientifically verifiable, then it should not be taken seriously. It's a well-worn point, but who can scientifically verify the reality of love? Yet, it's one of the most vital ingredient in a human's life. And it's the central tenet of the Christian faith (whether or not we all practise it as we should). God is love. He, too, is scientifically unverifiable, but as millions of people who have received His love unspeakable can testify, He, too, is very very real.


Courageous and honest, 11 Apr 2007
I gave it 4 stars because this book is written for an american audience and page after page it was clear that the majority of europeans would find some parts banal compared to similar books written by author such as R.Dawkins, D.Dennet or AC Grayling.
It is fair to the author that he has not got the academic credentials of the three above and I still hold my hat to his intellectual honest and courage as living in US nowadays for an atheist is not an easy thing.
To sum-up it is a good addition in the library and a quite enjoyable book that is often hilarious in various part.

A positive response to religious dogma, 22 Jan 2007
If you are considering ordering this book, may I offer a word of warning? The original book was published in 2004. A revised edition with a chapter on Intelligent Design was produced in 2006. I nearly ordered the older edition. It is worth taking a little care, here.

The first chapter of the book is in a question and answer format. In fact, it is compiled from a number of radio interviews. This sets the scene and gently eases you into the remainder of the book.

The author suggests that the remaining chapters can be taken in any order. They can be considered as separate, self-contained essays. I think it would be worth reading chapter two before going down this route. In fact, I tackled the book in the order in which it is presented.

Reading Karl Popper's `The Open Society and Its Enemies' I can remember the sense of excitement as Marxism was systematically demolished before my eyes. There was a sense that there was no opportunity for recovery from such a devastating intellectual attack. Maybe this book isn't quite in the same league but it does share something in common. Is there any way back from here?

Of course, Marxists aren't likely to be reading Popper and Christians aren't likely to be reading David Mills! So both authors will probably find themselves `preaching to the converted' to some degree. It would be nice to imagine the `scales falling from the eyes' of people reading this book but that is probably expecting too much.

As mentioned above, this new edition includes a chapter on the theory of Intelligent Design. The author tackles this issue on two fronts. The first is to reveal its scientific inadequacy. The second is to point out that it represents a heretical cult which deviates so far from Christian orthodoxy that, in the unlikely event that it wins a battle, it will undoubtedly lose the war.

An excellent book - substantial and well reasoned.

Most thought provoking book I've ever read, 26 Feb 2006
This is a fantastic book, brilliantly researched, full of intelligent, thought provoking and logical explanations to 'Life, the Universe and Everything'. I truly believe this book is as near as I will ever get to finding the answers. I could not put this book down and I shall re-read it many times, the great shame is that so few people will ever find this book.

A good starting point, 01 Oct 2005
I can recommend this book to anyone who has never bought a book on athiesm before. I've found that it gave me the answers to the questions that i've always asked myself, and yet known were logical, but that i was unable to explain previously. The writter must be congratulated on putting together a book which is easy to read, and enjoyable!!

A Fly Perched on a Wall..., 31 Oct 2008
One of the beauties of modern scholarship is the relative dexterity with which one can analyse a `foreign' culture or some aspect thereof without the need to immerse oneself completely in it. As a Nigerian, who was brought up in as a Christian, Philip Jenkins' The Next Christendom probes my childhood religious milieu and excels in its analysis of `Southern' i.e. non Euro-American Christianity. In this marvellous book, I could recognise the traditions in which I was raised and how they relate to Western Christianity.

Jenkins' basis premise is that Christianity is no longer a strictly Euro-American religion. He argues that Christianity's centre of gravity has shifted to the Global South i.e. the developing world. The faith has metamorphosed to accommodate non-Western cultures and, in doing so, has prospered beyond David Livingstone's wildest imagination. Professor Jenkins buttresses his main point with ample statistical and demographic evidence. For example, he shows (among other things) that in 2025 only 2 of the 10 countries with the largest Christian communities will be Western (USA and Germany).

Of course statistics do not tell the entire story. Why did non-Western (usually conquered) peoples accept the White Man's religion? The Next Christendom argues that if Christian proselytising in the 19th century was at worst driven by imperialist/racist attitudes to non Europeans, and at best, ignorant paternalism on the part of Europeans, why then did Christianity persist in the Third World after the collapse of the European empires? Jenkins posits that the reasons are varied: from a desire to imitate the West to the all-too-obvious explanation that Africans and Asians came to believe the Christian message.

Jenkins challenges the popular stereotype of Southern Christianity as a reincarnation of deep-seated, pre-Christian religious beliefs. He argues that the assumption underpinning this stereotype is that Western Christianity is the norm. Christianity, a near Eastern religion, adapted to the late Roman world of antiquity. For example, converted pagan temples became the site of some of the great Christian Churches such as St Paul's in London. Indeed, Christianity had become so `inculturated' into Europe that by the sixteenth when Europeans took their faith to non-European peoples, the missionaries naturally assumed that Christianity should reflect their European cultural assumptions. There is no reason why Christianity's age of enculturation should have stopped in the Middle Ages.

How might a world in which the most populous countries (such as Nigeria and Indonesia) are evenly split between Christianity and a resurgent Islam be like? Professor Jenkin's conclusion is a Huntingdonian world in which the borders between Islam and Christianity will be bloody. The future, according to Jenkins, is one in which Islam and Christianity will colour developing country conflicts over everything from access to the benefits of modernisation to social policy. Sadly, the evidence in places like Nigeria and Indonesia largely support Jenkins' conclusion.

Christianity's demographic future is largely in the Global South. Like any responsive multinational corporation, the Churches are actively pursuing this growth market with vigour. According to Jenkins, Southern Christianity is still work in progress; any hopes that a vibrant Southern Christianity will take up `Northern' social issues such as feminism, gay rights, environmentalism etc, will be dashed because the Southern Churches will increasingly be focused on Southern issues.

Despite a severe reversal in its fortunes (at least in the West), Christianity is alive, hale and hearty in the Developing World. The New Christendom illustrates this point with the candour and insight. The New Christendom is a well-researched and richly annotated book. It is not just a dry academic tome; Professor Jenkins seems to have perched on the walls of the churches in downtown Lagos and captured the vibrancy and the hopes of the congregation. What's more, he has put Southern religious expression in its historical and global context.

After reading God's Continent, I had come to expect a very high standard of scholarship from Professor Jenkins. The New Christendom has delivered on all points and them some. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why Christianity is still such a powerful force in the Developing World. I highly recommend this book and it deserves my 4 stars.


All change: the non-Western future of Christianity, 03 May 2008
There's plenty in this painstaking analysis of global Christianity's near future to intrigue. Jenkins' thesis is that the faith's centre of gravity is moving (perhaps has already moved) inexorably away from the so-called `Christian' West towards Africa, Latin America and Asia. Sheer population pressures alone underlie this trend, quite apart from anything else. By 2050, four of the world's largest concentrations of those defining themselves as Christians will, if current rates of growth are sustained, be in the `global south' (Mexico, Philippines, Nigeria and Brazil). This will mean that Western Christianity will have to come to terms with new voices, new expressions of faith - as Anglicans debating the acceptability or otherwise of gay bishops are already discovering. And in fact, as Jenkins shows, this `eruption' of an independent voice from outside the Western world is actually only the latest manifestation of a process that has been underway for some considerable time.

Though he sees this future voice as inevitably more conservative on `personal' moral issues than the Western church has been, Jenkins thinks it is more likely to be radical on socio-economic issues. (There is a strong element of schadenfreude to his funeral elegy for Western `liberal' Christianity, which he clearly - and unfairly in my view - blames for the church's demise in Europe). He also sees a future where the context for reading the Bible is one of persecution, whether due to Islamist intolerance or the repression of governments like China's (though that vast country probably already has more Christians than most European countries put together). Jenkins is fascinating, and he may be right in his predictions. But in the end, it's difficult to shake off the feeling that you're listening to a particular - conservative evangelical - voice, whose certainties drown out other perspectives. It would have been good, on such a large topic, to see those alternative visions and perspectives sketched out too - either as brief, contrapuntal asides or appendices.


A fascinating and thought-provoking book, 02 Dec 2007
This book is an update of Jenkins' ground-breaking book published nearly a decade ago and is still a fascinating and timely read today. The book amply demonstrates that our idea of 'traditional' or 'mainstream' Christianity is the result of the situation of Western European society over the last millennium and is not a true reflection of the current situation. Philip Jenkins reminds us that the Western part of global Christendom is shrinking and its importance, numerically speaking, is waning; the new Christendom will probably consist of the Southern churches - Africa, Asia and South America - whose experience of Christianity is very different than ours. Much of their Christian experience is more akin to the early church with supernatural elements being part of daily life, healings and prophecies common and their concept of culture completely different to ours.

Jenkins provides much statistical evidence to back up his points as well as a thorough discussion of how global Christianity spread through mission work in the past and how it might change in the future. There is much encouragement in this book, mainly in the reminder that Christianity is still a growing religion globally and that perhaps Islam will have less of an effect than we think, but it was also occasionally sobering in discovering that the form of Christianity that many of the Southern churches use is not one that would be a comfortable fit with post-Enlightenment western Christians.

Moving south, 25 Nov 2005
The author establishes that contrary to popular opinion, Christianity is not a European religion. Its origins are outside Europe and it was centuries before its strength was centered in Europe. The future of Chrstianity will be in Africa and Latin America. There is a global shift. Europe faces a bleak, depopulated secular future as far as its native peoples are concerned acording to present trends. Southern Christianity will be charismatic and ethically conservative. The author's prophecies are those of a demographer. He predicts increasing confict between Christians and Muslims.

Prepares you for a new world, 04 Jun 2003
In this fascinating book, professor Philip Jenkins proclaims that there is coming, within this 21st century, a new Christendom. The first chapter looks at the Christian Church of the past, and shows that the popular conception of a Christian West surrounded by a purely non-Christian world is fallacious; that Christianity took root in other parts of the world than Europe, and survived there all the way to the present. After that, the book looks at the spread of Christianity in the so-called "Third World," the same parts of the globe that are experiencing the fastest population growth.

Having (to my satisfaction, anyway) shown that soon many times more Christians will be living in other parts of the globe than Europe *and* North America combined, the author then goes on to suggest that this new phenomenon will potentially change the very face of Christianity. Prepare to see a new Christianity, one as differe