Christian Thinking through the Ages

Book excerpt: Christian Thinking through the Ages takes its reader on a journey through 2,000 years of ideas. It starts with Jesus of Nazareth's teaching, looks at speculation about Jesus himself and his significance, and describes the attempts to establish uniformity of belief both in the Roman Empire and in the late Middle Ages. It describes the thinking of medieval monks, schoolmen and friars, of the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment, and goes on to show how the twentieth century's political horrors led to new theological ideas, most of which have yet to trickle down to the mass of Christians. Concluding with an explanation of the various ways Christian churches disagree with each other, Christian Thinking through the Ages nonetheless ends with the hopeful thought that what Christians have in common and can share with others are 'the words of Jesus and his sacrifice'.