The Catholic Church: A History

By: William R. Cook, The Great Courses

Narrated by: William R. Cook

How did the Catholic Church become one of the most influential institutions in the world - a force capable of moving armies, inspiring saints, and shaping the lives of a billion members?

Explore these and other questions as you follow the development of this important institution in 36 informative, fascinating lectures. With Professor Cook by your side, you'll step into the world of the early church, witness the spread of Christendom, and learn about the origins of fundamental church institutions.

Your journey begins in the early years of the church, when Jesus's disciples developed the first communities of faith. You'll get a chance to delve into crucial ancient church documents and gain an intriguing glimpse into the lives of these early believers. From there, you'll trace the development and spread of this nascent religion throughout the world, covering crucial developments including the conversion of the Roman Empire to Catholicism, the schism between the Roman faith and the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Reformation.

As you delve into this fascinating saga, you'll quickly see that the Catholic Church actually takes many forms. You'll trace the many variations of worship and belief that evolved as Christianity spread all over the Mediterranean, and you'll witness how Catholic practice and faith have been transformed by the cultures and peoples it has touched. Professor Cook brings an unparalleled intellectual rigor to his presentation, balanced by a deep appreciation of the church's legacy and impact. Join him on this epic journey through Catholic history, and experience how this small gathering of faithful became one of the most powerful forces on the world stage - the "one holy catholic and apostolic Church."

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2009 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2009 The Great Courses

Great job

As a catholic who knows their history, it was great to see a truthful look at our faith and church. Great job

Great Title

A very interesting overview of Catholic history. Less chronological than some other lecture series available. Dr. Cook instead follows movements and ideas and groups his lectures by them. So for instance lecture 27 looks at American Catholicism as a whole, but then he jumps back to the Age of Reason in lecture 28, examining overlapping time scales through different lenses. This can make it more difficult to follow for some. Still it's very informative.

A great overview of Catholic history

Engaging professor. These lectures follow mainly a chronological narrative of the Catholic Church, pausing at times in certain eras for several lectures to cover different aspects of development. The professor is a Catholic but does not shield the Church from criticism where warranted. Much of the focus is on theological developments over time rather than just rote history

The book delivers on the content

The book or actually the lectures series commits and delivers an objective and historical account of Catholicism. The details are rich and the observations are keen. What it is not, is hours of evangelizing Roman Catholic doctrine. It is a historical review of christianity and by proxy western culture.

Great information

The course contains great information but at times can be overwhelming. But then how do you give a history lesson of 2000 years in just 36 lessons. The instructor is very knowledgeable and speak well.