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DVD Description
“MacCulloch's fresh way of thinking and thorough research upturns long-held views on how we typically view the major religion of the west.”--The Guardian
Presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch – one of the world's leading historians and Professor of History of the Church at St Cross College Oxford, A History of Christianity considers the evolution of the Christian faith and its four main forms: Orthodoxy, Oriental Christianity, Western Catholicism and Protestantism.
In this fascinating series Professor MacCulloch explains how Christianity first spread east, extending into Syria, Central Asia, India and the Far East. He explores the extraordinary and unpredictable rise of the largest single body of Christian devotion in the world, the Roman Catholic Church, and reveals how confession was invented by monks in a remote island off the coast of Ireland. As the series progresses it charts Eastern Orthodox Christianity's fight for survival after its glory days in the eastern Roman Empire and looks at the Reformation and the rise of Protestantism as well as the evangelical revival and the American-led rise of Pentecostalism.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: All six episodes of the religious series tracing the roots of Christianity. Spanning four continents, academic and theologian Diarmaid MacCulloch follows the route of the fledgling religion, arguing that it's origins reflected a more eastern bias than that which was previously thought. ...A History Of Christianity - 2-DVD Set ( Diarmaid MacCulloch's A History Of Christianity )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
84 of 88 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
You don't need to be a Christian or even religious to find this BBC series absolutely fascinating and extremely informative. Over six episodes it explains how what started as a small Jewish sect that preached humility became the biggest religion in the world. So much of our modern world, its societies, conflicts and customs are intertwined with the development of Christianity that I found each programme to be extremely interesting and of direct relevance to modern life, regardless of any individual's religious opinions.
The series is hosted by Diarmaid MacCulloch who is one of the world's leading historians, Professor of History of the Church and Fellow at St Cross College Oxford. Yet he doesn't hog the limelight or make the programme about himself; MacCulloch is undoubtedly expressing his interpretation of the historical facts and the current situation but he argues his points as an expert and not as a fanatic or a celebrity presenter. MacCulloch is obviously passionate and well informed about the subject matter but as he travels across the world to illustrate his arguments you don't feel bullied or hectored by his lectures. Instead he is quietly compelling, the kind of guy you'd like to chat to over dinner.
The series is massive in scope, and starts with Christianity's forgotten origins, then its expansion in the East, detailing the Eastern Orthodox church which has over 150 million members worldwide. Episodes touch upon the importance of icons, the great Byzantine expansion, what happened to Christianity in Russia under Ivan the Terrible and then the Soviet state, and so on. Christianity in Britain comes under the spotlight too, along with the Amish and Protestant offshoots from Catholicism; how the Reformation affected the development of British society, and how Evangelical Protestantism has evolved and changed all around the world.
So much of the background to our society is interlinked with the history of Christianity that this series provides many moment of little revelations, where the background to a current situation suddenly becomes clear. It was startling to be reminded how many pillars of British culture, politics and society have their roots in the Christian faith, too.
Prof MacCulloch draws on the expertise of other speakers to illustrate certain points; he involves experts, preachers, vicars and church-goers to demonstrate his arguments. At the end of the series I was left with the impression that it felt like a collection of very well presented essays: I'm not convinced that it is THE definitive history of Christianity. But it is a very accessible and very carefully produced one; well balanced and delicately nuanced.
Intelligent viewing, then, offering plenty of perceptive observation.
9/10
The series is hosted by Diarmaid MacCulloch who is one of the world's leading historians, Professor of History of the Church and Fellow at St Cross College Oxford. Yet he doesn't hog the limelight or make the programme about himself; MacCulloch is undoubtedly expressing his interpretation of the historical facts and the current situation but he argues his points as an expert and not as a fanatic or a celebrity presenter. MacCulloch is obviously passionate and well informed about the subject matter but as he travels across the world to illustrate his arguments you don't feel bullied or hectored by his lectures. Instead he is quietly compelling, the kind of guy you'd like to chat to over dinner.
The series is massive in scope, and starts with Christianity's forgotten origins, then its expansion in the East, detailing the Eastern Orthodox church which has over 150 million members worldwide. Episodes touch upon the importance of icons, the great Byzantine expansion, what happened to Christianity in Russia under Ivan the Terrible and then the Soviet state, and so on. Christianity in Britain comes under the spotlight too, along with the Amish and Protestant offshoots from Catholicism; how the Reformation affected the development of British society, and how Evangelical Protestantism has evolved and changed all around the world.
So much of the background to our society is interlinked with the history of Christianity that this series provides many moment of little revelations, where the background to a current situation suddenly becomes clear. It was startling to be reminded how many pillars of British culture, politics and society have their roots in the Christian faith, too.
Prof MacCulloch draws on the expertise of other speakers to illustrate certain points; he involves experts, preachers, vicars and church-goers to demonstrate his arguments. At the end of the series I was left with the impression that it felt like a collection of very well presented essays: I'm not convinced that it is THE definitive history of Christianity. But it is a very accessible and very carefully produced one; well balanced and delicately nuanced.
Intelligent viewing, then, offering plenty of perceptive observation.
9/10
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Living abroad I had to wait for the DVD to come out earlier this year and I was not disappointed.
The six-part series covers six phases of the Christian church in broadly chronological order: the early Church in the Middle East, the Catholic church with its centre in Rome, Byzantine Orthodoxy, the Reformations of the 16th Century, the Evangelical revival and Christianity's encounter with questioning since the Enlightenment.
On the whole a great series. The story-telling style combined with footage of key places in Christian history makes it compelling watching. MacCulloch gives a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the Christian story. I appreciated the focus on the East (the early church, Byzantium and Nestorianism) and also on the evangelical churches (eg Herrnhut).
In terms of constructive criticism, I would make three points.
Firstly, the series feels the need to follow the marketing of imperative of "What you never knew about the Christian church." The series makes some really interesting connections, but there are no major revelations (with the possible exception of his hypothesis that various post-Crusade churches are modelled on the Dome of the Rock).
A second criticism is the non-scholarly use of the term 'West' - why not say, "Western Europe and North America", "the affluent English-speaking world" or something similar. In the same vein, the term East can mean various different things (Orthodoxy, Nestorianism, China, India) and more precise terms would be better.
Thirdly, the conclusion of the series (the end of part six), which while focusing on a major issue (the church's interaction with issues of human sexuality) doesn't really capture the challenge for the world church in the light of all that has gone before. At this juncture the testimonial-confessional angle (expressed earlier in terms of MacCulloch's father and trips to old churches) takes centre stage rather too much. The more accusational tone of the sixth episode (also in relation to the Holocaust) introduces an element of alienation from the church somewhat out of sync with what had gone before.
Otherwise excellent.
The six-part series covers six phases of the Christian church in broadly chronological order: the early Church in the Middle East, the Catholic church with its centre in Rome, Byzantine Orthodoxy, the Reformations of the 16th Century, the Evangelical revival and Christianity's encounter with questioning since the Enlightenment.
On the whole a great series. The story-telling style combined with footage of key places in Christian history makes it compelling watching. MacCulloch gives a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the Christian story. I appreciated the focus on the East (the early church, Byzantium and Nestorianism) and also on the evangelical churches (eg Herrnhut).
In terms of constructive criticism, I would make three points.
Firstly, the series feels the need to follow the marketing of imperative of "What you never knew about the Christian church." The series makes some really interesting connections, but there are no major revelations (with the possible exception of his hypothesis that various post-Crusade churches are modelled on the Dome of the Rock).
A second criticism is the non-scholarly use of the term 'West' - why not say, "Western Europe and North America", "the affluent English-speaking world" or something similar. In the same vein, the term East can mean various different things (Orthodoxy, Nestorianism, China, India) and more precise terms would be better.
Thirdly, the conclusion of the series (the end of part six), which while focusing on a major issue (the church's interaction with issues of human sexuality) doesn't really capture the challenge for the world church in the light of all that has gone before. At this juncture the testimonial-confessional angle (expressed earlier in terms of MacCulloch's father and trips to old churches) takes centre stage rather too much. The more accusational tone of the sixth episode (also in relation to the Holocaust) introduces an element of alienation from the church somewhat out of sync with what had gone before.
Otherwise excellent.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
BBC(like Independent TV) has lots of splendid, spectcular documentaries. Years ago Bamber Gascoigne did a great docu on Christianity - why buy this new series,parts of which I had already seen live ?
First, those first glimpses fascinated me as they are full of places and events almost unknown to me, though I have quite good knowledge of the subject generally - and the whole atmosphere also has the allure of the mysterious and strange, while D.M.is clearly an expert who does not talk down to his audience. Beware !if you are caught up by the events as I was, you will need, and want, to watch scenes or whole episodes again,and perhaps again !! And I enjoy that, whereas the book would put undue demands on eyesight, concentration,temper...and shelf space; in a bitter contest against easier reading.
It depends on your interest in the history of human culture...but not on any particular allegiance. Good Luck, ENJOY the series.
First, those first glimpses fascinated me as they are full of places and events almost unknown to me, though I have quite good knowledge of the subject generally - and the whole atmosphere also has the allure of the mysterious and strange, while D.M.is clearly an expert who does not talk down to his audience. Beware !if you are caught up by the events as I was, you will need, and want, to watch scenes or whole episodes again,and perhaps again !! And I enjoy that, whereas the book would put undue demands on eyesight, concentration,temper...and shelf space; in a bitter contest against easier reading.
It depends on your interest in the history of human culture...but not on any particular allegiance. Good Luck, ENJOY the series.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A present for the man who has everything
What can I say - not my choice at all but if you are really into the history of christianity then this might just be the DVD for you!
Published 2 months ago by RP
A Candid but Friendly History
If you are looking for an introduction to 2,000 years of Christian history or to learn more about some particular strand of the church, then you should find this series well worth... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Eugene Onegin
Strongly biased against Catholicism
I'll refer mostly on Catholicism in this review.
When talking about confession and purgatory the author hints that the Church invented them for some sinister goal,... Read more
When talking about confession and purgatory the author hints that the Church invented them for some sinister goal,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by josip.rakonca@st.hinet.hr
A brilliant introduction to Christian History
I am at Theology College studying for a BTh, and in my second year. I bought this DVD to get an introduction to Reformation Church History, and then I studied the period in... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Neil Douglas
A trip through 2000 years of history in 6 hours
This is an excellent purchase. Six hour-long documentaries that relate the history of the church during the last 2000 years. Be prepared to find out things you never knew. Read more
Published 17 months ago by David Smith
BBC at its best
This series is just the best and most informative resume of how christianity spread around the world. Fabulous photography and an excellent presenter.
Published 18 months ago by HappyShopper
A History of Christianity
A fascinating well produced and presented history of the early church which explores areas not normally associated with the usual view of the growth of the faith.
Published 20 months ago by PGARROD
Flawed overview of flawed system - but worthwhile for it
The great strength of this BBC TV presentation is to illustrate the huge divergence which has arisen between modern-day, mainstream Christianity in its many forms and the faith... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Jeremy
Fantastic
this is a comprehensive Objective view of the History of Christianity . an Amazing journey
Published 21 months ago by E. A. Gecchelin
A History of Christianity
Good set of videos. I missed some of the programmes on TV and was glad to get the series on DVD. I enjoyed watching it as the presenter was excellent except he could have left out... Read more
Published 23 months ago by M. A. Foley
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