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The Catholic Church: A History cover art

The Catholic Church: A History

Written by: William R. Cook, The Great Courses
Narrated by: William R. Cook
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Publisher's Summary

How did the Catholic Church become one of the most influential institutions in the world - a force capable of moving armies, inspiring saints, and shaping the lives of a billion members?

Explore these and other questions as you follow the development of this important institution in 36 informative, fascinating lectures. With Professor Cook by your side, you'll step into the world of the early church, witness the spread of Christendom, and learn about the origins of fundamental church institutions.

Your journey begins in the early years of the church, when Jesus's disciples developed the first communities of faith. You'll get a chance to delve into crucial ancient church documents and gain an intriguing glimpse into the lives of these early believers. From there, you'll trace the development and spread of this nascent religion throughout the world, covering crucial developments including the conversion of the Roman Empire to Catholicism, the schism between the Roman faith and the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Reformation.

As you delve into this fascinating saga, you'll quickly see that the Catholic Church actually takes many forms. You'll trace the many variations of worship and belief that evolved as Christianity spread all over the Mediterranean, and you'll witness how Catholic practice and faith have been transformed by the cultures and peoples it has touched. Professor Cook brings an unparalleled intellectual rigor to his presentation, balanced by a deep appreciation of the church's legacy and impact. Join him on this epic journey through Catholic history, and experience how this small gathering of faithful became one of the most powerful forces on the world stage - the "one holy catholic and apostolic Church."

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2009 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2009 The Great Courses

What listeners say about The Catholic Church: A History

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beyond an eye opener

I'm listening again, nothing that is in the lectures was frivolous. The stories and tidbits were story telling gold. I was raised atheist, a bit anti Christian since we are a Christian majority country. But wow I want to be Catholic and share in the dynamic and dysfunctional family.

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Great experience

It’s indeed a great course. I loved it a lot. Though I don’t agree absolutely on the conclusion he arrived at (is church catholic?) part to be specific, I really enjoyed it and recommend this course to anyone interested in Roman Catholic history.

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In depth explanation of church history and teaching

This was a very in depth explanation of Catholic teaching and history. It covers all the phases of development and makes sense of modern developments like Vatican I and II.

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Excellent and accessible

I’ve listened to over a dozen audiobooks on Christian history, and this is easily one of the best. The scholarship is excellent but also presented in an accessible way, and the lecturer is animated and engaging. Highly recommended.

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