Rating: 
Summary: History Comes Alive
Review: In THE STORY OF CHRISTIANITY, divided into two volumes, Justo Gonzales does a fantastic job of bringing the history of the church alive. His writing style is engaging and the text tends to read more like a novel at times than a typical textbook. And for me that is what this was: a textbook for a Church History class. But by the end of the semester I found myself reading more for pleasure than class requirements. Gonzales focuses on the high points for the most part because these books are surveys. In particular, there is a greater focus on men like Constantine, Augustine, Luther, and Calvin. He is fair in his research and opinions, and no matter what background you come from you'll find that he presents the facts in an honest and unbiased (as possible) fashion. Coming from an evangelical background I learned much about the roots of that movement and was also very pleased to find a wealth of information on the eastern churches, liberal protestantism, scholasticism, etc. The development of the church in early Latin America, Africa, and Asia is also given attention. Gonzales covers all of the bases. THE STORY OF CHRISTIANITY is a fine resource for those who wish to gain a firm understanding of the history of the Christian church or for anyone who desires to have a quality resource on the subject available to them. For student, layperson, or teacher, this is an excellent buy. Five Stars.
Rating:
Summary: a well written historical overview
Review: it's hard for me to give anything 5 stars, but this is such a well written overview of church history that i have to acknowledge it for what it is. of course, anyone wanting in depth historical study would need to find other resources that focus on the specific period they wish to really research. Gonzalez writes in a style that makes me forget i'm reading a history book. he covers a wide range of history in an extraordinarily clear way. i am happy to have both volumes in my library for future reference. i plan on reccommending both vol. 1 & 2 to many people i know.
Rating:
Summary: Quick Review
Review: Readable, intermediate level introduction to the history of the Church. Comes in two volumes. Very scholarly and well-researched material.
Rating:
Summary: Quick Review
Review: Readable, intermediate level introduction to the history of the Church. Comes in two volumes. Very scholarly and well-researched material.
Rating:
Summary: Gonzalez Sets the Standard
Review: Referring to both volumes 1 & 2...Gonzalez offers a incredible amount of detail and unbiased history in only 800 pages. His presentation is non-threatening, so Protestant and Catholic alike can appreciate his work. Seeing the activity of the Christian church during the past 2000 years along side of secular history makes the watered down, non-religious historical account come alive and make far more sense simply because in ages past, religion truly did play a significant role in the decisions not only of the church, but also in the politics of the nations and empires. Other good books specifically pertaining to American history which you may like, if you favor Gonzalez, are "The Story of Liberty" and "Sweet Land of Liberty" by Charles Coffin. This is because history is very often re-written to fit the mold or desired viewpoint of the prevailing social mindset. Coffin's books, written in the 1800's offer a more accurate view of what really happened in Colonial America than what is being taught in the watered down and politicized versions being taught in public schools in North America today.
Rating:
Summary: Gonzalez Sets the Standard
Review: Referring to both volumes 1 & 2...Gonzalez offers a incredible amount of detail and unbiased history in only 800 pages. His presentation is non-threatening, so Protestant and Catholic alike can appreciate his work. Seeing the activity of the Christian church during the past 2000 years along side of secular history makes the watered down, non-religious historical account come alive and make far more sense simply because in ages past, religion truly did play a significant role in the decisions not only of the church, but also in the politics of the nations and empires. Other good books specifically pertaining to American history which you may like, if you favor Gonzalez, are "The Story of Liberty" and "Sweet Land of Liberty" by Charles Coffin. This is because history is very often re-written to fit the mold or desired viewpoint of the prevailing social mindset. Coffin's books, written in the 1800's offer a more accurate view of what really happened in Colonial America than what is being taught in the watered down and politicized versions being taught in public schools in North America today.
Rating:
Summary: Gonzalez Sets the Standard
Review: Referring to both volumes 1 & 2...Gonzalez offers a incredible amount of detail and unbiased history in only 800 pages. His presentation is non-threatening, so Protestant and Catholic alike can appreciate his work. Seeing the activity of the Christian church during the past 2000 years along side of secular history makes the watered down, non-religious historical account come alive and make far more sense simply because in ages past, religion truly did play a significant role in the decisions not only of the church, but also in the politics of the nations and empires. Other good books specifically pertaining to American history which you may like, if you favor Gonzalez, are "The Story of Liberty" and "Sweet Land of Liberty" by Charles Coffin. This is because history is very often re-written to fit the mold or desired viewpoint of the prevailing social mindset. Coffin's books, written in the 1800's offer a more accurate view of what really happened in Colonial America than what is being taught in the watered down and politicized versions being taught in public schools in North America today.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Content, Poor Format
Review: That Gonzalez is comfortable with the subject matter in this book is self-evident; he is able to move in and out of the various periods and phases in Christian history with seeming ease. However, herein likewise lies the ever-frustrating weakness of the book: he literally moves in and out, and will often begin one thought, move on to something else, and then return to the previous thought in a subsequent chapter. As a result, I often found myself somewhat disoriented and dislocated upon completing certain chapters. It is easy to lose one's chronological bearings in this somewhat poorly structured work. Another disappointment is the fact that this volume completely lacks any sort of interaction whatsoever with other scholarship: no quotes, no cross-references, no dialogue, no other opinions -- nothing: it is a "one man show" from cover to cover. Another concern regards the concluding chapters on the Spanish and Portuguese expansions. While perhaps interesting, this simply does not belong in this book; the reader is forced to make a completely disassociated leap across Europe from Bohemia to Portugal with the turn of a page. One must wonder to what extent this section is simply the product of special interest. Unfortunately, I do not feel as though I can in good conscience recommend this book to other readers, even to beginners (perhaps especially to beginners). In its stead, I might recommend B. Shelley's "Church History in Plain Language" for something on a comparable level.
Rating:
Summary: Good Content, Poor Format
Review: That Gonzalez is comfortable with the subject matter in this book is self-evident; he is able to move in and out of the various periods and phases in Christian history with seeming ease. However, herein likewise lies the ever-frustrating weakness of the book: he literally moves in and out, and will often begin one thought, move on to something else, and then return to the previous thought in a subsequent chapter. As a result, I often found myself somewhat disoriented and dislocated upon completing certain chapters. It is easy to lose one's chronological bearings in this somewhat poorly structured work. Another disappointment is the fact that this volume completely lacks any sort of interaction whatsoever with other scholarship: no quotes, no cross-references, no dialogue, no other opinions -- nothing: it is a "one man show" from cover to cover. Another concern regards the concluding chapters on the Spanish and Portuguese expansions. While perhaps interesting, this simply does not belong in this book; the reader is forced to make a completely disassociated leap across Europe from Bohemia to Portugal with the turn of a page. One must wonder to what extent this section is simply the product of special interest. Unfortunately, I do not feel as though I can in good conscience recommend this book to other readers, even to beginners (perhaps especially to beginners). In its stead, I might recommend B. Shelley's "Church History in Plain Language" for something on a comparable level.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully cohesive look at the evolution of Christianity
Review: These two volumes present the development of Christianity in a way which gives the reader a greater understanding of the changes that have taken place over the two millenia. The author presents historical events along side the theological thinking of the time. Unlike many histories, this one is not dry but very readable; a joy to pick up. It has given me a new understanding of the development of my Faith and has helped me to see how the denominations are more alike than they are different. This is very settling. If you are interested in the history of the Anglican Church, the book "A History of the Church in England" by J R H Moorman is similarly cohesive and readable.
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