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The Catholic Church: A History cover art

The Catholic Church: A History

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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Fascinating and well presented

What a fascinating and well presented set of lectures. I loved learning more about history/church history/Catholic church history.. The professor is a lively and engaging presenter. Thanks

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3 people found this helpful

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Excellent

This is the second Great Course I've listened to by Professor Cook (no relation!) and he is definitely one of my favourite lecturers in this series. His knowledge base is impressively broad whilst still being detailed, his courses are fascinating, and as a lecturer he is the perfect balance of academic and engaging. Academically he is objective and fair and passionate. Highly recommended.

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Highly recommended

Highly knowledgeable professor, entertaining content, and briskly sequenced. I was looking for a general overview of Church history and this absolutely delivered.

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Well written but shows bias

Good stores and leaner sone things.

But saying the church does it discriminate against women forget the passages telling women are worth half that of a man. And don’t see many female bishops. Or even pay preachers for that matter.

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Apologetics for the Catholic Church

William R. Cook does not separate his belief from this course. There us very little unbiased analysis, and he regularly states things as thought they are fact without acknowledging or referencing much more rigorous broader arguments and research. It is essentially a course in apologetics fot the Catholic Church. Very disappointing.

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