Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity

by Mark A. Noll

In this popular introduction to church history, now in its third edition, Mark Noll isolates key events that provide a framework for understanding the history of Christianity. The book presents Christianity as a worldwide phenomenon rather than just a Western experience.

Now organized around fourteen key moments in church history, this well-received text provides contemporary Christians with a fuller understanding of God as he has revealed his purpose through the centuries. This new edition includes a new preface; updates throughout the book; revised "further readings" for each chapter; and two new chapters, including one spotlighting Vatican II and Lausanne as turning points of the recent past.

Students in academic settings and church adult education contexts will benefit from this one-semester survey of Christian history.

Genres: History, Church History, Theology, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Mark A. Noll (born 1946), Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, is a progressive evangelical Christian scholar. In 2005, Noll was named by Time Magazine as one of the twenty-five most influential evangelicals in America. Noll is a prolific author and many of his books have earned considerable acclaim within the academic community. The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind , a book about the anti-intellectual tendencies within the American evangelical movement, was featured in a cover story in the popular American literary and cultural magazine, Atlantic Monthly. He was awarded a National Humanities Medal in the Oval Office by President George W. Bush in 2006.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good basic book on the history of Christianity, which is actually used as a textbook. In fact, there is a set of detailed questions in the back which is suitable for discussion or study groups.

One of the interesting things about this book is its approach to the subject. It does not try to give an impossibly condensed yet comprehensive history of the subject in one huge unwieldy volume. Nor does it take the multi-volume approach and go into minute details.

Instead, it takes a series of crucial moments in the history of Christianity and explores the impact that each of these moments has had (and might still be having) on Christianity as a whole.

Even though Mark Noll is a Reformed Evangelical Christian, he teaches at a Catholic institution, the University of Notre Dame. So maybe that is why he discusses Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy respectfully and without undue Protestant bias. His area of specialization is the history of Christianity in the United States and Canada. And yet, with this book, he was able to take a step back, as it were, and use a wider perspective. The turning points on which he focuses range from the Jewish beginnings of Christianity to its various contemporary manifestations in Africa, China and Latin America.

As a person who dabbles in early church history (from the New Testament, up to and including the Protestant Reformation), I found it interesting to read about the developments of Christianity in later times, in a way that was neither too confusing to follow nor too dumbed down to enjoy.

[Dante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succinct, even-handed, and insightful. Everything a primer on church history should be.

Outside of the classroom, this book was my first real dive into literature on church history, and I am glad I started here. This book is written for the layman unfamiliar with church history and is both detailed enough to be enlightening and general enough to keep up a layman's interest. The structure of the book helps in guiding the reader's interest, with each chapter solely devoted to each historical movement, or "turning point" as Noll calls them. This makes the book much more readable, allowing for reading in small bursts without loosing the main thread of the narrative.

Noll is up front about his perspective and biases as a Protestant evangelical, and clearly denotes the insights and opinions that are his own. He gives equal emphasis on developments in the Protestant Church, Catholic Church, and the Orthodox Church. Noll explicitly praises the turning points that redirected the church towards a more Protestant leaning, but is just as explicit in condemning the Protestant Church's failings. Neither does Noll shy away from praising the Catholic or Orthodox movements that have borne good fruit for the body of Christ.

Noll focuses on the events that are symbolic of larger tectonic shifts in the Christian faith, and is unbiased as to the sources within the church of these shifts. The greatest strength of the book is Noll's insight into how a certain event or shift is emblematic of the larger changes happening at the time. This allows him to discuss specific historical events in detail while also generalizing vast amounts of history that could not make it into a book of this size.

The only complaint I have about this book speaks more to my own enjoyment of academic literature rather than any faults of the book itself. I found it hard to be completely engrossed by this book. While I'm glad I read it and am thankful for the knowledge and insight it has given me, I found myself counting down the pages until I finished the book. I say this speaks more to myself as a reader only because I have read little academic literature outside of school, and am adjusting to reading such literature for fun.

All in all, this book is a wonderful place to start for anyone wanting to learn about Christian history. I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noll provides a high overview of the history of the church by taking in depth looks at the most significant moments in the church’s time. This is a great introduction to church history, as it introduces readers to important figures, meetings, and issues that have shaped the church we see today.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most books on the history of Christianity fall into two distinct traps. 1) In trying to include everything of significance, they become too detailed and unwieldy and end up becoming unreadable. 2) In trying to remain succinct and readable, they gloss over or skip completely key events that should belong in any history of worth. In my opinion, the best author for balancing these two dangers is Justo Gonzalez. His short two-volume History of Christianity is still the gold standard for any introduction to the topic.

In this book, Mark Noll takes a different approach to avoiding these two traps. Instead of a comprehensive chronological approach, Noll picks out certain key moments that significantly changed the face of Christianity. These are given chronologically and enough context is given to each event so that this does appear to be a "history of Christianity" but it is simultaneously less and more.

As with any selection like this, there will be some dispute as to which events should be included or left off. Obviously, some events cannot be disputed like the Great Schism which divided the Catholic and Orthodox churches and Martin Luther, although he chooses the Diet of Worms rather than the more expected 95 Thesis. I agree with this choice. Where I do not agree is with his inclusion of both the Edinburgh Missionary Conference and the Lausanne Conference. Honestly, I would not have included either one. I would have taken Azusa Street as the birthplace of modern pentecostalism (which went from 0 to 280 million adherents in a hundred years) rather than the Edinburgh Conference and would have let the 2nd Vatican stand alone rather than combining it with the Lausanne Conference.

But those are opinions. If you read this, I am sure you would come up with your own. The book is a good read. As I said, it is no Justo Gonzalez, but it is definitely a worthy read.

[Ryle]

I find Noll's method of focusing on specific turning points (rather than trying to give an overview of everything) to be one of the best ways to explore church history, and so I benefitted greatly from this book.

[John Majors · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading church history. And while this wasn't any where near my favorite book on Church History (that would be "The Story of Christianity" by Justo Gonzalez. Both volumes are FANTASTIC) - this could be a great book to give someone who wants to dive into church history and yet doesn't want to commit to a big book - as most church history books seem to be. The best part of this book is he focuses on 12 or so major events in the history of the church. So even the moderate observer will come away knowing about the biggies like Nicea, the Great Schism, Reformation Day, and the Act of Supremacy. I'd encourage the reader to skim where one is feeling bogged down. There are chapters I struggled through, and others I couldn't put down. Overall a quality resource.

[Travis Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the single best primer on the history of Christianity, and all due to Noll’s uniquely thoughtful approach. Instead of unloading every single detail and angle of Christianity’s 2000 year history, Noll picks 13 “turning points”—flags he can plant in the ground and say “Christian history changes decisively here.” Some of these are obvious—Council or Nicaea (325 AD) or Luther at the Diet or Worms (1521)—while others more subtle, but indisputably critical—Benedict’s Rule (530), French Revolution (1789). It’s too easy to get bogged down and lose your way in even the best of historical surveys, but this approach makes it easier to grasp certain necessary moments that you can hang more details on later. (By the way, Noll still uses brush strokes to describe what happens between these turning points, saving the book from becoming a disjointed series of essays). An awesome book to pair with a more extensive survey (such as Justo Gonzalaz’s two volume work). One of my favorites; second time reading.

[Michelle Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok, I feel like I could have read a summary of the book and gotten the same information. It was a little of a drag. There are other better church history books.

[Catherine McNiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read part of this for a seminary class and hope to get back and read the rest of it.

[Melissa Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is great as a reference book, but not really for a cover-to-cover read. Informative but very dry.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 3 out of 5]

First church history book I ever read. Some interesting socio-economic explanations for why people did x.

[George P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turning Points is a one-volume history of Christianity written for laypeople and students. It tells the Church’s story by describing “decisive moments in the history of Christianity” when the doctrine, character, and institutions of Christianity took a new direction. (The quotation is the book’s subtitle.)

Those moments include:

* The Fall of Jerusalem (70)
* The Council of Nicaea (325)
* The Council of Chalcedon (451)
* The Rule of Benedict (530)
* The Coronation of Charlemagne (800)
* The Great Schism (1054)
* The Diet of Worms (1521)
* The English Acts of Supremacy (1534)
* The Founding of the Jesuits (1540)
* The Conversion of the Wesley Brothers (1738)
* The French Revolution (1789)
* The Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910)
* The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) and the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (1974)

>Further, in the Afterword, they identify five twentieth-century trends that may be considered turning points in the future: “the rise and spread of Pentecostalism; the emergence of women into greater public visibility; the massive production of new Bible translations as an aspect, more generally, or the globalization of Christianity; the survival of Christianity under Communist regimes; and the recent flourishing of Christianity in Communist China."

The authors admit a degree of subjectivity in their selection of these events. They are evangelical Christians in the Reformed (i.e., Calvinistic) tradition. While recognizing that other historians may have chosen different inflection points, the authors humbly make a reasonable case for their selection.

Mark A. Noll—whom I studied with at Wheaton College—first published Turning Points in 1997. This 25th anniversary edition adds husband-wife scholars David and Han-Luen Kantzer Komline. Together, the authors have lightly revised the text; expanded references to women; revised the material in text boxes; and updated statistics, quotations, and suggestions for further reading.

Potential readers may wonder why reading an introductory volume on church history is worthwhile. The authors provide four reasons that I found persuasive:

1. The study of the history of Christianity provides an ongoing reminder that the God of the church is not removed from life but works out his will in the history of the world.

2. The study of church history provides perspective on the interpretation of Scripture.

3. The study of the church gives us fascinating glimpses into the ways Christians have interacted with their culture.

4. The study of the church reveals again and again how God has mercifully protected and increased his church despite the sometimes horrendous abuses of those who call themselves Christians.

Turning Points includes study questions at the end of the book for use by groups, such as introductory church history classes, book clubs, Sunday school classes, and small groups.

I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the church but unsure where to start.

Book Reviewed
Mark A. Noll, David Komline, and Han-Luen Kantzer Komline, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, 4th ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022).

P.S. If you like my recommendation, please click “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am agnostic but, given my deep love of literature and history, wanted to know more about the history of Christianity, and so have been reading about its development. I read Turning Points right after I finished A History of Christianity by Paul Johnson, hoping for another thoughtful perspective on one of the world’s most influential religions. Boy, was I disappointed.

Turning Points is a fairy tale masquerading as an academic work; it has all the depth of a children’s book you’d read in Sunday school. I was looking for a balanced, or at least multi-faceted, view of Christianity’s development and its influence on world events, the kind I found in Johnson’s work. What I got was a self-righteous assembly of essays extolling the virtues of Christianity with very little, if any, critical analysis, and a complete disregard for the religion’s negative influences. And before some ass wipe tells me that my assessment of this book is colored by a hatred of Christianity, I will say that I do not hate Christianity or religion in general; my belief is that shitty people can be found everywhere and they will use whatever tools at their disposal to be shitty. I also believe that unthinking adherence to any doctrine is dangerous, especially those that encourage hatred and violence towards others.

Below, I’ve detailed my two biggest problems with the book.

1. An unapologetic Protestant bias
While I appreciated Noll’s coming out and saying that he’s coming at history from a Protestant perspective, I felt he did not make any real attempts to even approximate academic objectivity. Of course, no one can be wholly objective. But given that he is a *professor,* I was hoping that at least some effort would be made. It is not. Rather, his views, which of course are not representative of all Protestants, are aired as authoritative. The word “correct” appears multiple times when describing issues of faith, as if he is the final arbiter of what “correct” faith is. Johnson is also Christian and he comes out as a Catholic in the introduction to his book. But he tries to not let his personal beliefs get in the way of academic rigor. He criticizes and praises people from all denominations.

2. His overview of missionary work is offensively lacking
What I hated most about this book was its complete glossing over of the horrors enacted and encouraged by Christian nations and people. I found his treatment of missionaries especially disturbing: he completely disregards how missionaries were part and parcel of destructive, dehumanizing, and cruel colonial endeavors. The most cursory reading (or googling) about the role of Christianity in colonial expansion will teach you that religion was often used as an excuse for the most horrifying violence. Even with missionaries who were motivated by a sense of altruism, that altruism often came from a racist conviction of the cultural supremacy of white Europeans and Americans. Native peoples and religions were and are viewed as “primitive,” “barbaric,” and “simple,” views embraced by this book. And of course there is no mention of how religion was used to justify the horrors of the Inquisition, the Crusades (which were political and economic ventures as well as religious), the Holocaust, etc. etc.

It is obvious that Noll deliberately omitted any facts that would have cast any Christian in a less than noble light. For instance, when he talks of Bartolome de las Casas, he notes, correctly, that de las Casas was one of the few Europeans who objected to the Spaniards’ treatment of the Taino and who advocated on their behalf. But he does NOT mention that it was de las Casas who proposed that, to solve the problem of Spanish cruelty, Africans should be brought as slaves to Hispaniola. He later went back to say that both forms of slavery were wrong. But we don’t hear ANYTHING about it. And de las Casas is one of the more sympathetic figures we see; if he can’t provide context for this figure, imagine how unbalanced and simplified his profiling of others is.

His treatment of missionaries among Native Americans is also risibly pollyannish. There is absolutely no mention of missionaries deliberately and violently invading Native American culture and life; for instance, the kidnapping children and forcing them into “civilizing” schools where they were punished for speaking their own language and, by use of physical and emotional abuse, encouraged to abandon their cultures.

Johnson, whose book was published in 1975, shows racist views in his depiction of the spread of Christianity; I would argue, though, that overall he is actually *less* racist than Noll because at least he explores some Europeans’ skepticism/disapproval over the whole endeavor and the ways in which missionary work negatively affected the lives of those living in colonized areas. Johnson also talks about how Christians collaborated with Nazis or remained silent during the Holocaust, and also points out other times in history when Christians behaved in terrible ways.

Turning Points does a disservice to Christians. If I were a Christian, I would want to learn as much about the good AND the bad of my religion’s history. By refusing to delve into the intricacies of Christianity’s past, Noll denies his readers the opportunity to learn how religion brought people together, how it tore people apart, how it inspired people to incredible feats of generosity, but also how it was used as a tool to dehumanize, enslave, and conquer. I would want to know the strengths and weaknesses of the people who preceded me so I could have a deeper understanding of how my own religion could be improved, and how I, as a Christian, could become better. Through Noll’s cotton-candy fluff piece, we get none of these opportunities. Rather than being billed as an academic work, this book should be relegated to Sunday school, alongside the equally simplistic Veggie Tales. The reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is because, like Veggie Tales, it provided me a sense of how many Christians view themselves, as well as a brief sketch of important events and stories. I do feel like I have a sense of some big moments and their consequences.

Had Noll simply cobbled together Wikipedia pages on the turning points he explores, he would have had a much better (and more extensively cited) book. I can’t believe I paid for this bullshit.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adult Sunday School class at our church worked through this book back in the fall, as part of a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. I bought the book, then promptly had back-to-back colds and missed almost all the classes, so I decided to work my way through it this year. It was a good overview of some of the major developments in the history of Christianity (and not just Reformed Protestant Christianity), and I appreciated how readable it was on the whole, even if it was a little dry at times. I do wish there'd been more about the history of Christianity outside of the Western world, but for a quick survey of the history of the church, it was quite decent. 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up for being informative without being boring.

[Mitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book highlights select events that seriously impacted the directions and impacts of Christianity (defined as Roman Catholics and Protestants) from the time immediately following the apostles to today. In each case, the author lays out his case for why each event was selected as opposed to others.

The book is an almost-textbook on history, with a few subjective Christian observations occasionally added. It is general, but informative if the reader hasn't much knowledge of what the broadly defined Church has been up to since the last univerally recognized apostle passed.

I would say that it's probably best for most readers to take it one chapter at a time, to give time for mental digestion before heading off on a new turning point.

The book suffers from excessive name and accomplishment listing in several chapters. There are simply too many for the average reader to connect with or remember.

I gave it an average rating not necessarily because it is an average book, but more because my interest in the subject wasn't great enough to rate it higher.

[Tyler Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful, thorough, and accessible walkthrough of Christian history through the lens of its most crucial events.

Great for anyone who wants a volume on church history that is accessible yet also packed with great stories, insights and book recommendations.

I found the sections on the Council of Nicaea, 19th century missions, and the Second Vatican Council to be the most enjoyable and thought provoking.

[Marie Sonnen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first 3/4ths of this book. As the authors approached the modern era they struggled to clearly define turning points. While this is understandable since history is by its nature most clearly defined in hindsight, it still made that section of the book less relevant and enjoyable.

[Dallas Lovewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of major moments throughout Christian history. Noll is fair and even-handed to the wide variety of Christian groups he discusses, and I came away with a deeper appreciation for the movement of God in traditions outside my own. In addition to sharing the big picture of historical developments, Noll also skillfully weaves in quotes taken from the prayers, journals, hymns, church documents, etc., of the people and groups he's discussing.

[J Quin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful overview from a theologically solid perspective. Noll does not waste time romanticizing Eastern mysticism like other popular church historians. This is not a book for entry level learners of church history though; the language is a bit advanced. And I don’t recommend audiobook format for this book because it is hard to tell when one section ends and another begins, also because important information is compacted into very efficient sentences that are better off read.

[Lance Crandall · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5…
Enjoyed learning Christian history through these turning points. Very fair with the broad view of church in mind. It includes songs and quotes for each point which was cool!

[Matthew C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an informative, non-comprehensive survey of Church history. The limited format allowed for a deeper look at a select amount of punctuated points in the timeline rather than a shallow summary.

[Emily Funkhouser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled in some gaps for me in an accessible way, and made me appreciate the way God is building His global church.

[Lizzy Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a confident four star with the caveat that church history is not my forte. i loved the writers’ concept of arguing 14 specific turning points, rather than laying out a monotonous timeline of events. this layout created an interesting and understandable read on a topic that typically doesn’t keep me captivated.

[Zachary Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really solid look at decisive points in history that shaped the Christian movement.

[Iter Meum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be amongst the best of the books I have read on this topic, and I have read a few this year. I would attribute this primarily to the book���s accessibility. Most of the volumes I have read or seen on the history of the Church appear to be college textbooks. As such, well, they kind of make for dry reading. This is sad because most Christians then justifiably choose not to become aware of their family history, thus becoming a people without roots. Even more sad is that it leaves the Church open to be manipulated by those with various sectarian or heretical axes to grind. Often this is executed by means of naive fantasies about the early Church that are used to justify division or stories taken out of context of injustices suffered that are calculated to make the blood boil with the same divisive goal. Books such as "Turning Points" stand to strengthen the Church by reconnecting her to her roots. One quickly gets the sense that very few of the challenges the Church faces today have not been faced in the past. One can easily appropriate many of these lessons learned (either positively or negatively) from the past and apply them to contemporary challenges.

One also gets the sense that God has guided His Church in ways that we in all of our postmodern wisdom would not. When we today, in broad general swipes attack the various manifestations of the Church throughout its history, be they Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant, we attack God���s sovereignty and the wisdom of His work. In the history of the Church, one can see our legacy as an unbroken tapestry that exists within the bounds of the cloth (orthodoxy) proceeding forward by the guidance of the Holy Spirit with unexpected color and diversity. The story on the cloth always manages to transcend the drops of black from the self-inflicted wounds that arise out of our mysterious state of being, as Luther put so well, a people that are simultaneously justified and yet sinners. Even now as the Church moves its center of balance away from the west and is appropriated by cultures in Asia and Africa, its color and diversity continues to explode in new vibrancies that carry the story forward within the bounds of orthodoxy while amazingly finding a kind of unity in its diversity that does not spill off of the cloth. Anyway read the book. It���s all there.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second of Mark Noll's books that I've read, and again I was impressed. The author takes a methodical, objective walk through nearly 2000 years of Christian history, highlighting a dozen key events such as the Council of Nicea (~standardization of the Biblical text), coronation of Charlemagne (ascendency of Christianity as civilization itself in western europe), the French Revolution (struggle between enlightenment thinking and religious traditional power). Add to this the Counter-Reformation, schism between Eastern and Western Christian churches, and the Edinburgh Missionary Conference in 1910.

I don't see how anyone could come away from this book without a new consideration for how religious faith and government/society have been deeply intertwined. This is most clear in the west, as that's the focus of this book. (Though it makes one wonder if this isn't a common or natural development in other cultures, too.) At various times in our history, what we broadly call christianity has also been used to form the infrastructure of civilization and government. When secular alternatives to the functional needs of society were developed, the church lost part of what it was doing--often with ensuing conflict. It SHOULD be leading back to a religious faith that is personal, and unencumbered by social functions, but I'm not sure that's really happening.

The other unavoidable conclusion from this book is that Christianity, at least as an institution, is far from unchanging. It's not a constant. Though it may have a real truth at is core (I believe so--where it can work at a personal faith level), when built up into an organization, society, or government it's clear that it has done nothing BUT change during the past two millennia. That's a useful confirmation for me, because it means that anything that's done in the name of christianity (as an organization or tradition) should be scrutinized. It's often not the immutable truth that its proponents suggest. We need to think critically, pray fervently, and decide for ourselves.

Hmm, I guess this review turned into a soapbox somewhere along the way. :-)

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The textbook for a Church History subject I'm teaching. A balanced, readable, interesting single volume survey. The selection of 13 'turning point' events from 2000 years of church history is a great device -- Noll has managed to present a reasonably satisfying treatment of the subject in only 330 pages, whilst also keeping the significance of each event constantly in view. Well presented as an introductory textbook with photos, select quotations from primary sources, each chapter starting with a hymn and finishing with a prayer from the period under discussion, good further reading lists and even a set of study questions. Noll's balanced approach is the basic strength of the book -- he speaks from an evangelical perspective whilst treating other traditions objectively. Highly recommended as an introduction to the topic.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it's not as specific and influential as Noll's The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, nor a vital provocation like The Civil War as Theological Crisis, Mark A. Noll's survey of church history, Turning Points, is still quite good, just in a quieter way. It's a good book and an excellent place to start if you're new to church history.

So far as the audiobook goes, James Anderson Foster does a fine job as reader.

[JR Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Offers a good set of hinges upon which to swing the doors of church history through. I think Noll could have been more critical considering the negative influence that the ecumenical movement had on the Church in the 20th century. Also, not much was said considering the liberalism and high textual criticism in the 19/20th centuries, which felt like a hole in the analysis.

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read. Like skipping a stone across the ocean, this book glides across the surface of church history stopping at only a few places and briefly summarizing many overarching themes. This is by no means comprehensive, but a great intro to church history.