The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 3 : The Growth of Medieval Theology (600-1300) (The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Christian Doctrine)

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Summary: A great book in a tremendous series
Review: I was introduced to Jaroslav Pelikan's "The Christian Tradition," of which this is the second volume, last March while researching a term paper for a History of Christianity class. This volume was so invaluable to me during my research that I immediately went out and bought the rest of the series as my funds would allow. Pelikan is a clear and readable writer who conveys both the context and the importance of his subject matter. THE SPIRIT OF EASTERN CHRISTIENDOM is a tremendous resource for anyone interested in the Ecumenical Council's and their affects upon Church dogma and the growing apart of the Western and Eastern Churches. The marginalia is also an indispensable resource which makes the primary sources extremely accessible to the reader. I highly recomend this book to everyone.

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Summary: Another Great Book From Pelikan
Review: Jaroslav Pelikan is one of the foremost scholars of Christian Thought and History. This book is the second volume in his monumental set, and like the other four volumes, it does not disappoint. This volume covers the often neglected "lung" of Christianity, the Eastern Church. Its neglect in the Western world is mainly because we tend to focus on Western history, to our detriment. The controversies over the interpretation of the Church Fathers, over icons, and the Trinity are given plenty of space, as is the development of the "Eastern Mindset." The political and doctrinal issues surrounding the Filioque (the "and the Son" clause of the Nicene Creed) and the "Great Schism" between East and West are also discussed, and handled very fairly. Pelikan seems to (wisely) hold both sides and the egos involved to be at fault for the schism. He looks at the events and controversies of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Ecumenical Councils too. He ends with the "Last flowering of Byzantine Theology" including the tragic almost complete loss of theological and liturgical contact between East and West.

Pelikan is fair and balanced in his appraisal of events, and concerns himself primarily with the development of doctrine, so some issues and events might seem downplayed or ignored. His style, while interesting, can also be rather academic. Many Latin and Greek words are used without translation. Many technical Church terms are used as well, which might be unfamiliar to those not versed in Church history. As such, this might not be the best beginner's introduction to the Eastern Churches.

It should be noted that Pelikan eventually joined the Orthodox Church, so the contents of this book (written in 1974) were probably part of his journey. I had the joy of hearing Pelikan speak and of attending an Orthodox service with him. He genuinely loves the Eastern Tradition, and certainly views the events in his books as more than just cold historical facts. This love of Christian history could be why his books are so well-written. However, they are still very scholarly and look at events critically, which might cause him to be dismissed as too "liberal" or "modernist". However, the Tradition of the Church is never dismissed out of hand, and Pelikan is quite traditional in his beliefs. Overall, this is a great part two in the History of the Development of Doctrine. For those who have a background in Christian history, volume two will probably teach you more new events and figures than any other of his volumes, because the East's history independent of the West has been neglected for too long.

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Summary: Oustanding Historic Text on the Eastern Christian Tradition
Review: Jaroslav Pelikan, is one of the foremost scholars on historic Christianty in the world. This book, the second in a series, examines the Eatern Christian tradition between 600 and 1700. Many of the improtant issues and controversies are discussed to include many of the councils about the nature of Christ and prevelant heresies of the period and the schism between the Eastern and Western church.

The reader will find much information and refernces on the inconoclast controversy, Filioque controversy, and the rise of the Islamic relgion in the Christian world. A short review cannot do this book jsutice. A must resource for any serious Christian student. His research is immpecable and his righting style easy to follow, which is surprising considering the scope and scholarly detail of this book.