ABSTRACT

The story of Christian thought is essential to understanding Christian faith today and the last two millennia of world history. This fresh and lively introduction explores the central ideas, persons, events, and movements that gave rise to Christian thought, from early beginnings to its present forms. By highlighting the important but often neglected role of women and the influence of non-Christian ideas and movements, this book provides a broader context for understanding the history of Christian ideas and their role in shaping our world. Christian Thought:

  • provides an overview of the context of Christianity’s origin, including discussion of the influence of Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans
  • explores the major events and figures of the history of Christian thought, while drawing attention to significant voices which have often been suppressed
  • analyses the impact on Christian thought of widely discussed events such as The Great Schism, the Scientific Revolution, and modernism
  • surveys contemporary trends such as fundamentalism, feminism, and postmodernism.

This fully revised and updated second edition features a new chapter on liberal theology and reflects recent scholarship in the field. Complete with figures, timelines and maps, this is an ideal resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the development of Christian thought and its influence over the centuries. Further teaching and learning resources are available on the companion website at www.routledge.com/cw/meister.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

part |2 pages

Part 1 Incubations and origins: the ancient period 500BCE–70CE

chapter 1|18 pages

The pre-history of Christian thought

chapter 2|20 pages

Jesus of Nazareth

chapter 3|18 pages

The Apostle Paul: his thought and context

chapter 4|16 pages

The break from Judaism

part |2 pages

Part 2 Definition and resistance: The Patristic period 70–500

part |2 pages

Part 3 Establishment and diversification: the Medieval period 500–1500

chapter 12|18 pages

Monasticism of the early Middle Ages

chapter 13|16 pages

Eastern Christianity splits from the West

chapter 14|14 pages

Anselm, Abelard, and Bernard

chapter 15|18 pages

Islam and Judaism in the Middle Ages

chapter 16|16 pages

Women and theology in the Middle Ages

chapter 17|16 pages

Thomas Aquinas

chapter 18|16 pages

Preparation for reform

part |2 pages

Part 4 Protest and revolution: the Reformation period 1500–1700

chapter 19|16 pages

Martin Luther

chapter 20|16 pages

The Reformed tradition

part |2 pages

Part 5 Enlightenment and evolution: the Modern period 1700–2000 and beyond

chapter 23|16 pages

The challenge of modernism

chapter 24|18 pages

Pietism and revivalism

chapter 26|14 pages

Neo-orthodoxy: Karl Barth and others

chapter 27|16 pages

Liberal Protestantism

chapter 29|24 pages

Recent and emerging themes