The History of the Catholic Church: Tradition and Innovation

by Christopher M. Bellitto

Publisher's Summary
Take an unforgettable journey through the entire span of the Catholic Church's existence. In this essential course, The History of the Catholic Church: Tradition and Innovation, acclaimed historian and award-winning professor Dr. Christopher Bellitto (PhD, Fordham University) breathes new life into two millennia of history.

The chronicle of Catholicism can seem daunting: full of names, dates, places, and phrases. Getting ahold of such a rich and diverse history requires guidance and a skillful approach.

In this brilliant survey course, you'll explore traditions of belief and innovate ways to describe, share, and live that faith. With Dr. Bellitto as your guide, you'll look at the major periods of church history: early, medieval, reformation, and modern. As you take this journey, you'll examine changes and continuities across the centuries.

In "Early Church", you'll see how a small group of believers spread the faith in a hostile pagan world. Then, in "Medieval Church", you'll see how popes and kings, bishops, and local lords fought to control the church as believers in the pews and plazas rediscovered the human Jesus of the Gospels. Meanwhile, religious life adapted as Christianity encountered new cultures. "Reformation Church" considers how the church recovered from its late medieval controversies and bridged the gap between science and religion. Finally, "Modern Church" explores how Vatican II has transformed Catholicism as it strides into its third millennium.

Dynamic and insightful, this course is a must-have resource. By understanding the history of the church, you will understand its fascinating past as it journeys into the future.

©2017 Now You Know Media, Inc. (P)2017 Now You Know Media, Inc.

Genres: History

Audiobook

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Christian]

A Focused and Pointed History

AT A GLANCE:
A great lecturer provides an engaging yet brief look at Church history.

CONTENT:
Audio lectures are arranged chronologically from the earliest Christian centuries through to the present day. The focus is in the title; rather than endless dates, kings and events, the history of the Church is examined through the dual lenses of establishing tradition vs. the important innovations in its structure and ideas. This approach works well overall though will not be comprehensive enough for a beginner in the subject. Scholastic thought is probed with great subtlety and Prof. Bellitto clears up many misconceptions around it. Topics like the Crusades are broached with tact, while others like the Great Schism are left wanting (e.g. No, the filioque controversy was not simply a matter of semantics and opposition to authority). Vatican II is a particular highlight; after just listening to John O'Malley's treatment I was glad to see here an elegant summary of the opposing views of the council's reception.

NARRATOR:
Professor Bellitto is an accomplished academic and is worth listening to. His tone and style is accessible. He is willing to depart from the plan frequently to offer insights, which is much appreciated. He spends a good deal of time on the papacy and unflinchingly tackles how it developed as an idea and human institution. However, one novelty must be mentioned: he treats the Donation of Constantine as a 4th-century historical fact rather than a later forgery. Though he gives his reasons for this, any listener should research the issue and take this with a massive grain of salt.

OVERALL:
Recommended to those who are familiar with the subject, serving as a pass through Church history viewed as tradition and innovation.

[David Wurtsmith]

I remain astonished that Dr Bellitto managed to compress the more than 2,000 year long history of the Catholic Church - the world's oldest extant institution - into a mere 10 hour long series of half-hour lectures, which he delivers in a manner which is engaging, memorable, and germane to even a non-believer like myself. If you have ever been curious about the faith of approximately ⅛ of all humans living on Earth today, then I doubt you could get more bang for your buck anywhere else.

[Tyler Collins]

This was a decent overview of the whole of Catholic history. It was a lot to cover in only 10 hours, but it was helpful for getting the lay of the land, particularly since I am more familiar with the Protestant tellings of church history. Bellitto's overview and perspective on Vatican II was interesting for me as someone who is trying to understand the drama about Vatican II that currently exists among Catholics.

I listened to this on Hoopla from the public library.

[Michele G.]

A brief overview of the history of the Catholic Church; wish it was more in-depth.

[Bert]

Engaging and informative.