Exploring Christian Heritage: A Reader in History and Theology

by C. Douglas Weaver (editor), Rady Roldán-Figueroa (editor)

Exploring Christian Heritage provides students and teachers with a rich and substantial introduction to the texts that have shaped the Christian faith. Including works by Augustine, Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Wesley, John Calvin, and Karl Barth, among others, this collection also highlights essential movements—from the second to the twenty-first centuries—often glossed over in primary source readers. From Pentecostalism and Baptists to feminism and religious liberty movements, Exploring Christian Heritage succinctly joins together the most influential voices of Christian history and theology with those that have been forgotten and sometimes ignored.

Now in its second edition, voices ancient and modern have been added to deepen and widen the story of Christianity in varied forms. Exploring Christian Heritage , second edition also contains additional classroom resources, including new textual introductions and over ninety new quizzes.

Genres: History, Theology, Nonfiction

343 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[BJ Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always say that I prefer to read what the original theologians/historians/writers have said rather than read what others have said about them. Reading Augistine or Plutarch or... whoever is always far more beneficial than the spin some later might put on their works. So in that sense, I love this book. In Exploring Christian Heritage, Weaver gives us the words (or in some cases poems and songs) of ninety-three different people in Church history. Starting with men like Ignatius and Justin Martyr and moving chronologically forward right up to Billy Graham and Larry Norman, we get a brief glimpse of what these men and women of Church past have had to say. For each person there is a paragraph or two explaining who they are and their significance and then we get a page or two of what they wrote.

As much as I love the idea, there are a few bones I have to pick. First, as with any such list, there are people I would have added and others I am scratching my head on why they were included. In the same way, since it is such a short portion of what they wrote, there were also times I was scratching my head wondering why they included x but not y. In all, I think I would have enjoyed the book a bit more if Weaver cut the number of people in half, perhaps down to fifty, and then doubled the amount of content shared from each contributor.

Oh, and one more thing, regarding the choice to include Richard Furman... don't feed the trolls.

[Emma Baden]

hi kelsey

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recognize that some of my critiques of this book are as a result of my choosing to read what is, ostensibly, a textbook for basic religious courses. That being said, the main thing this book suffers from is a lack of organization. While proceeding chronologically through a number of pronounced and deserving theologians and thinkers, there is nonetheless a distinct lack of arrangement or identification of some of the main themes that one ought to be thinking through when reading selections. The introductions to each piece provide some measure of historical context for placing the piece in time, but do little to emphasize its overall relation to the themes and concerns of Christianity as a whole. Chronological arrangement makes the most sense, but in terms of driving home the importance of some of these texts, perhaps a thematic organization may have been suggested (and warranted).

[Joseph Mundo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exploring Christian Heritage, Second Edition was a valuable historical anthology that exposed me directly to primary Christian voices across multiple eras of church history. Rather than presenting a single theological narrative, the reader allowed me to see how Christian belief, practice, and leadership developed—and sometimes struggled—within changing cultural and political contexts. The collection reinforced the importance of discernment, as not every historical expression of Christianity aligned consistently with Scripture. At the same time, it deepened my appreciation for the continuity of core Christian convictions, especially regarding Christ, the church, and faithfulness under pressure. Overall, the book served as a helpful tool for understanding Christian history while reminding me why Scripture must remain the final authority over tradition.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the writings of Church leaders of the past is very helpful in understanding how we got to where we are!