The History of Christian Theology

By: Phillip Cary, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Phillip Cary

In this 36-lecture course, you'll find an engaging way to explore profound religious questions and the many responses believers, scholars, and theologians have developed over more than 2,000 years. Through this series, Professor Cary reveals the enduring power of the Christian tradition - as both an intellectual discipline and a spiritual path.

These lectures begin at the very dawn of Christianity, as you examine some of the earliest examples of scripture recorded by the first communities of the faithful. You'll see how, over the centuries, these teachings developed into the orthodox teachings of the mainstream church as well as the divergent doctrines taught by splinter groups branded as "heretics." You'll explore the causes and outcomes of the split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church during the Middle Ages and examine the explosion of the many Protestant groups that resulted from the Reformation in the 16th century. And finally, you'll come to the modern era, with a survey of the evolution of Christian thought in today's society - the ongoing story of how faith persists in an increasingly secularized world.

Each lecture illuminates the conceptual structure of Christian theology as it connects to spiritual practices such as prayer, worship, the use of sacraments, and the contemplation of religious icons. Through lucid and engaging explanations, they provide intriguing analyses of theological ideas in their unique historical, social, and biographical contexts to help you understand the power of each tradition within its particular time and place. The result is a sweeping survey that probes some of the most common questions about Christian faith over the centuries.

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

©2008 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2008 The Great Courses

Enriching History

I listened to this twice so far. I appreciate the eye-opening connection the lecturer makes to Plato and Aristotle and how they laid the foundation for the abstraction and perfection in Christianity. His explication of Martin Luther, Calvin and the Reformation as a whole is absolutely exquisite.

I especially appreciate the genuine warmth behind the lecturer's approach to the material.

👍

loved it! even though i disagreed with several personal leanings of his, it was very informational.

For Every Thinking Person

Amazingly thoroughly engaging survey. Gracious, intelligent, ecumenical. A hope-filled look to the past and future.

Should be Required Listening for all Christians

A clear, even handed in-depth look at the history of Christian theology. I learned extensive amounts both about Early Christianity in the time of the New Testament and modern Christianity. I only wished it touched more on developments in modern Eastern Orthodoxy.

Love the lecture format, structure and delivery

If you want to get a good understanding of the evolution of Christian theology and the schisms with resulting variant beliefs and faiths this is a fantastic listen!

Thorough

I have studied theology on and off for many years. IMHO, one cannot study theology thoroughly without getting into the history off the subject. In professor Cary's survey he does an excellent job off covering every base and delaying them one to another. Since i am protestant, all my studies have focused on protestant theology. i have only occasionally hit on any Catholic theology. Cary covers several primary doctrines of the Catholic Church and relates them to similar protestant doctrines. He also helped me put protestant theologians whom i have studied in perspective with protestantism as a whole. Highly recommended.

Christian Theology through Protestant Eyes.

Where does The History of Christian Theology rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would have to rate it quite high for it`s clarity, listenability and overall informative-balance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The History of Christian Theology?

There were many insightful moments but my most memorable was the ending with reference to Hans Ur Von Balthasar.

What does Professor Phillip Cary bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A warm human, informed and balanced connection.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

On one level yes, but on another level one sitting would not have enabled me to take it all in. I will definitely relisten to this book.

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent book for neophyte Protestants or for non-protestants interested in Protestantism and their view of Christian theology.

A superior scholar, a fascinating subject

Dr. Cary is a wonderfully gifted scholar and teacher, and a delight to listen to. His Philosophy and Religion in the West course, my first exposure to him, is astonishing for several reasons - not the least of which is the fact that he is an Orthodox Christian who nevertheless manages to maintain an uncanny degree of objectivity in presenting this complex and sometimes delicate subject matter.

He does nearly this well with Christian Theology. He makes the material fun, engaging, and stimulating. You're unlikely to find a better introduction to the subject anywhere - whether on audio media or in print. My only complaint is that, unlike his tack in the Phil/Religion course, herein he does take for granted some assumptions about the Orthodox views of Jesus that deserve more skepticism - e.g., that the doctrine of Incarnation was an inevitable result of scriptural assertions in the NT. He rather rushes through and oversimplifies the Gnostic objections, and doesn't mention the Ebionite (early Jewish Christian) theology of "adoptionism" at all. Nor does he make clear that the Scripture, at the time that the Church fathers were trying to consolidate the proto-Orthodox position, was not even close to canonization - and would not be a true canon until near the end of the 4th century CE. Clearly the proto-Orthodox position actually shaped the content of the canon - both in terms of which books were included or excluded, or even (as Bart Ehrman has pointed out) as a matter of textual revisionism.

Dr. Cary regains his stride by the time he gets to his real wheelhouse - Augustine - and his treatment of the major theological movements from Augustine on up seem really on point. All in all, another terrific performance by one of the Teaching Company's very best instructors. Buy this one - you won't be sorry.

balanced and charutable

outstanding very organized explanation of the entire Christian experience the most balanced I have ever read. This should be a required course for all christians
before speaking to each other

Amazing listen

Not only incredibly informative, but fun to listen to. Highly recommended not only to Christians trying to understand their faith (and what makes the denominations different) but to any student of history as the history of the west is tied to the history of Christianity