Alex Rhea’s Reviews > The Oxford History Of Christianity > Status Update

how do you like it so far? pros/cons?

Cyrus wrote: "how do you like it so far? pros/cons?"

As a brief introduction, it's ok. It's covering a HUGE topic, and there is less space given to the earlier eras (which also make up the parts that I have read so far). Due to this, I feel like there is a lack of nuance. Each chapter is written by different scholars, and so far some of these scholars seem a little overly critical and sometimes patronizing towards the early Christians in their commentary. That's not to say one has to praise everything they've done, it's just, like I said, it's a broad topic and there's lots of things that happened, both good and bad, that get's brushed over or not mentioned at all. But like I said, as a brief introduction, it's ok. I wouldn't take it as your ONLY source on the subject, of course. The next chapter I'm on, on Eastern Christianity, is written by Bishop Kalistos Ware, perhaps the most famous Greek Orthodox clergyman in the western hemisphere. So that should be good.