What is Christianity? by Douglas Jacobsen

What is Christianity? by Douglas Jacobsen

What Is Christianity? provides a fascinating overview of the world’s largest religion, weaving history, theology, spirituality, denominational divisions, and global growth into a single compelling story. Written in clear and captivating prose that requires no previous knowledge of Christianity, it describes the religion inspired by Jesus as a living faith that is still changing and developing today.    

Reader-friendly chapters introduce the major traditions of Christianity (Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Pentecostalism), explaining their spiritual appeal and tracing their evolution over the centuries. Christianity’s recent global expansion is highlighted, but Christianity has been a diverse and multicultural movement from the very beginning. Each chapter provides thought-provoking insights into the beliefs, values, practices, achievements, and failures of Christians as they tried to remain faithful to the message and meaning of Jesus in different times and places.   

• Condenses a vast amount of information into a coherent narrative 
• Explains how and why Christianity has become so incredibly diverse  
• Describes what almost all Christians have always held in common 
• Summarizes the current status of Christianity in each global region  
• Discusses the challenges that Christians worldwide are facing today 

What Is Christianity? is an ideal introduction to Christianity as a world religion for people who are unfamiliar with Christianity as well as for Christians who want to know more about their own faith and the faith practices of fellow believers from other Christian traditions. An engaging text for general readers, this short volume will also be a stimulating choice for book discussion groups and or for the classroom. 

Douglas Jacobsen is Distinguished Professor of Christian History and Theology Emeritus, Messiah University, Pennsylvania, USA. A widely traveled researcher and speaker, he is the award-winning author of several books including The World???s Christians and Global Gospel. Professor Jacobsen currently co-directs the Religion in the Academy Project (RITA), a major research initiative examining religion and religious diversity within higher education.