Great World Religions: Christianity

By: Luke Timothy Johnson, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Luke Timothy Johnson

These 12 lectures are an engaging and comprehensive introduction to one of the world's greatest faiths. By concentrating on the basics that every well-educated individual should know, Professor Johnson's lectures provide you with a clear survey of the most important elements of this religious tradition-and a framework for further study.

In this lecture series, you'll consider fundamental issues including Christianity's birth and expansion across the Mediterranean world, the development of its doctrine, its transformation after Christianity became the imperial religion of Rome, its many and deep connections to Western culture, and the tensions within Christianity today.

Professor Johnson's synthetic approach provides first an overview of the Christian story, how it understands history from creation to new creation - and the relation of scripture to that history, and the Christian creed: what Christians believe about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the church. He also explains Christian practice as expressed by the structure of the community and its sacraments, by the struggles of Christians to find a coherent and consistent moral teaching, and by various manifestations of Christianity's more radical edge in martyrs, missionaries, and mystics.

By the end of this engaging and accessible series, you'll finally have a true grasp of Christianity's distinctive character, the major turning points in its history, its most important shared beliefs and practices, and, above all, its continuing appeal to many of the world's peoples.

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

©2003 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2003 The Great Courses

too short

Christianity's ubiquity means people take it for granted without analyzing it.
Ironic that Christianity stresses unity, peace, and living by sacred law, yet has a myriad of sects, history of extreme violence, and people disobeying gods law. Most religions don't have a lot of doctrine, meaning that there is less to fail at.
Morality is simple in Judaism and Islam but is highly complex in Christianity.
Mystism is singular not communal connection to the divine.
Archaeology has given context to many of the sayings and deeds of Jesus.
2nd century Christianity is its own religion, no longer a Jewish subsect.

Insteresting but spoiled by inacuraces.

Have you listened to any of Professor Luke Timothy Johnson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, no sure I want to.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I did learn a lot.

Any additional comments?

I lost trust in the lecture once the incorrect historical information on some items was presented, I wondered what else was changed to meet modern progressive revisionist history. First refereeing to Palestine in Jesus time is incorrect, there was no Palestine until 70AD. Then the reference to the Crusades was miss-represented, yes the 4th Crusade did invade Constantinople, but it was not the last Crusade, and reasons for it are wrong. There are one or two other items that where incorrect. I am not sure if the lecturer actually does not know, or modified to meet modern agenda. I am losing interest in the Great Course as their lectures are no sticking to the facts. I noted this in the Jewish lecture as well, and see my comments on the Islam course.

Gets a Little Confusing

While explaining the various Christian churches, it gets a little jumbled. Otherwise, this course is a decent introduction.

very well put together. Succinct, research based.

Thoughtful. went through it twice and am keeping it active to review periodically. highly recommend

Excellent overview

I always enjoy Luke Timothy Johnson’s lectures. He is thoughtful and clear. I was glad to see he included Orthodoxy, as well as varieties of US Protestant Christianity, although I would have liked to see them covered in greater depth.

Superficial

Unfortunately, this course did contain almost no insights beyond elementary historical or sociological level. The performance was adequate.

His total disdain for Christianity

Each of the other “Great Religions” courses were instructed by practitioners of those faiths. Christianity was taught by a man who appears to be a stand-up comedian. He ridiculed and demeaned the faith at every opportunity. So immensely disappointed.