People of God: The History of Catholic Christianity

by Anthony E. Gilles

The history of Catholicism is the history of Christian faith. Anthony E. Gilles traces its development—from its beginnings in hushed gatherings within the Roman Empire to its current size and influence—in an accessible and enjoyable style. A revised and updated compilation of the history volumes from his best-selling People of God series, this book will help you understand how the Church developed in relation to, or in rebellion against, the larger culture. It details centuries of crucial turning points from the development of apostolic succession to the implementation of the reforms of Vatican II. Complete with maps, timelines and special "focus" sections on important events and issues, this valuable resource belongs in the collection of every student of Church history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

251 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Nancy]

This is a very condensed history of the Catholic Church, hitting both high and low points. The author warns at the start that he doesn't shrink from the more negative aspects of Church history, which is as it should be, however, as a whole, the book seems to stress the negative more than the positive. For instance, the Crusades are presented as not much more than an abomination, with very little said about the culpability of the Muslims. The author is also a huge fan of Vatican II, which is fine, but he seems very dismissive of Catholics who have issues with it and see V II as the "Protestantizing" of the Catholic Church. The book was published in 1989, and so doesn't have to deal with all the craziness the Church has faced since then. In general, I found this informative, although with a liberal bend.

[Dee]

This book is so well written and easy to understand, even though the scope seems outrageous. Mr. Gilles gives adequate substance and lets you know when it's going to be sketchy because that would be a whole other book. Great discussion of how the Catholics of today evolved from their predecessors and how much they differ with each other yet today. It also discusses the parallel development of the Protestant Christians and describes the differences and comonalities of the Protestants and the Catholics. This book is energizer for the Christian who really wants to be part of the coming of the Kingdom of God.

[Larry]

This series is a terrific introduction to Catholic Church history for the lay person and perfect for adult education classes. It is not intended for scholars but for the average person wanting to learn more about their Faith and their Church. It is not a be all/end all but an introduction that should direct the reader in the right direction more in depth understanding.