Over the Easter holiday I had the opportunity to review Diarmaid MacCulloch’s, A History of Christianity, The First Three Thousand Years. Viewing the series was indeed a magnificent event. Dr. MacCulloch, a Professor of History at Oxford takes the viewer through all of the great events, and sometimes not so great events that have contributed to the modern identity of Christianity. What I found most striking in the initial narrative of that focused on the first Christians was the remarkable points of ethnic diversity the early Christians possessed as primarily a church of the Eastern Roman Empire. Only the subsequent rise of Rome transformed the religion into what we naturally perceive today as a Western Religion.
Throughout the episodes, small tidbits of history, theology and sociological norms are interwoven into the series to entice the viewer into a deeper comprehension of the small Jewish sect that ultimately became the world’s largest religion.
The collection of six DVDs utilizes exceptional photojournalism while telling the ongoing story of the spread of Christianity. The producers visit the most significant and holiest sites in Catholicism. Of particular interest, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem that shares theological heritages with both the Greek Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church.
The series continues to review all of the great intellectual and theological developments that influenced Christianity’s growth and spread throughout every political and social situation throughout the world. Additionally, the issues of Protestantism and the issues of the Reformation are equally studied with great academic clarity and theological succinctness.
Every Catholic institution of learning should have this series as a source for students in their libraries. The faithful believer should include this series in their personal media collection. It is perhaps the most refreshing attempt to show the true complexities of the development of Christianity throughout the world, while respecting the most sacred aspects of our Catholic faith.
A History of Christianity, The First Three Thousand Years is available through Ambrose Video. Their website is http://ambrosevideo.com . The price is $79.00 for the six DVD set.
Hugh J.McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist writing on Catholic topics and issues. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he studied both philosophy and theology. He writes frequently at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://nothing-left-unsaid.blogspot.com . Hugh writes about his Irish Catholic upbringing and educational experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com  He has contributed works to Catholic News Agency, Catholic Online, The Irish Catholic, Dublin, the British Broadcasting Company, London and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Catholic Exchange, Pewsitter.com, Blogger News Network & The Catholic Business Journal,CatholicMom.com. & Catholic.net Comments are always welcome at hjmn4566@gmail.com.
2 users commented in " DVD Review: A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years. "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI believe in the father ,son (jesus)an the Holy spirit.I believe in gathering with belivers to worship the Lord,to fast,an Pray for other.But in no where does he say we have to sign a paper or form to be a part of a church of believers,that comes automaticly we are a part,when we repent,an are washed in his blood.When God looks down from the throne,of Grace,an Mercy.Hes no looking for a cathlic title,a babtist title,an holliness title,hes looking for Jesuse blood,on the door post of that person,or a peoples hearts.Thats what seperats the beliver ,from the unbeliver.The price paid with Jesus blood.We will never make it in because we are just good people,works wont get is into the presence of God,its faith,an the blood.He says you can not,because you do not believe,he even told many i could have healed you,if you had of had faith./if they would have only believed .Unbelieve is a sin itself.An then we have the sins of the flesh,the abominations of Homosexuality,of idol worship an s on.All can be saved if the humble themselfs,reconise they have sinned,an repent an turn from their wicked ways.But we must beware of false teachings.Jezebel teachings.An Idol worshipers.An seperate our selves from the unbeliver.Sinners can be save ,but some have been sent to this earth unaware.An those will/or could never be saved like Pharoh,Hitler,false teacher of the word.
THE ONE SIN MAN CAN NEVER GET FORGIVEN FOR,IS BLASPHMY,A OUT ,AN OUT LIE AGAINST THE hOLY SPIRIT.
When Jesus was healing ,an delivering,casting out of ungodly spirits ,the Religious sect,an High officals ,Preist of that church said his work was done by Satan(they used another chief demons name)Those church religious leaders comitted blasphemy when they lied on the Holy spirit at work,through Jesus..
The religious sect of his day,said Jesus blasphemed(lied) when he said today the word is fulfilled,that he was the Massiah sent by God,the true walking word.
AN THEY CALLED HIM A LIER(BLASPHEMER)BUT INTRUTH THEY WERE LIERES,AN UNBELIEVERS,HIDING BEHIND THE CHURCH,IN HIGH PLACES,WEARING BLINDERS,written ny man,under the athority,an unction of the Holy spirit,of God.I believe in the word of God.
It is written=To love your neighbor(anyone,an nationality)as you love your self.Many who claim to know God,dont practice this ,an it was what the comandment were based on the first.
But God does say to seperate ourself from unbelivers those who chose false Gods to worship/those who just donot belive in God.I find worship of Mary isnt written in the word,its not from God.She was chosen,an respected by many,she found favor in Gods eyes.But Jesus is the Holy walking word,in a fleshly body,who was murdered,him being innocent,an as his fleshly body gave out,the Holy spirit that he carried/
in a fleshly body.Mary could not have recived that gift yet,because he became open to man,who repented,an love God/Jesus.After Jesus had risin.Not after Mary had risin.Remember the day of Penticost!!
God said hes no respector of persons.In other words he loves all he chose her because she may have had a pure heart.But were not to bow down an worship her,or pray to her, to pray for us,or our loved ones,
(or the dead,they have met their the one they served,after death)((Jesus said I will pray for you that your faith holds)As he told Peter,before he was sifted as wheat by satan.,
no man can inter in except through me(Jesus)(Not Mary).Errors have slipped in the hearts of Gods people,an he said if you contenue to believe a lie,he will let you believe that lie,an be damned.
We are suppose To love God with all my heart mind an spirit.But i find with those who claim christianity,love every thing but the true living God.He is to be first,check what he says to the churches in Revilations,about leaving their first love(Him) He tells through the writer,who was under the athorithy of the God,of abraham,Jacob,An Isaiac/the Holy on ,the Iam/that I am/the first,an the last,the alphia,an Omagia.The true an only God/Son,An Holy spirit.
But God says have no other Gods before him.He often spoke in his word about idol worship being a abominational sin,isnt the C Church doing just what God says hes against when they worship an pray to Mary????
God never sayed we had to commit to celebency to be a priest.He told people to marry,would be better than to burn(maybe burn in lust,or burn in Hell because of sexual sin,if unmarried.But Paul said if they chose to be celibent that it was alright,but not a order,by God.
hmm…a video that isn’t ridiculing christianity.
However, I see the anti Catholic rants are alive and well in the comments.
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