Paul Johnson: History of Christianity - Book Report/Review Example

 Book Review: History of Christianity By Paul Johnson Thesis of the Book When Christianity is compared with mankind, it is moderately young. Nobody has the idea of the age of man. This can be attributed by the fact that nobody can tell specifically when the creature simply described as man appeared on this planet. There is one estimate that claims the first presence of mankind to be as roughly one million two hundred thousand years ago (Paul, 1976). A human being with the brain size that is about the size of today’s man is estimated to have lived roughly half million years ago. When compared with Christianity that began less than two thousand years ago, the idea that Christianity is much young is supported. When one believes the standpoint in the New Testament that God’s plan lies in Christ for the whole creation, plus that God intends to converge as one, all things within Christ, both that are on earth and in Heaven, then Christianity turns again to be more recent (Paul, 1976). This is because the few centuries since the appearance of Christ are only infinitesimal portion of the total time that has passed since the planet, not to mention the whole earth, appeared (Paul, 1976). On the other hand, when human civilization is compared with Christianity, it is still young. Actually, civilization is said to have started about 12,000 ago, the final time of continental ice sheets retreat (Paul, 1976). This brings forward the notion that Christianity started its existence only a sixth or fifth of the precise civilized mankind’s span. Moreover, Christianity came into being lately in the mankind’s religious development. It might be something of the type that Paul meant when he announced that, “in the completeness of time God forwarded His son”. However, with the faiths that possessed a widespread and continue spreading geographically, Christianity is just subsequent to most recent to be born. Animism which seems to have many forms appears to have antedated the human civilization. On the other hand, polytheism which had so many followers is very old. Hinduism in its previous features antedates Christianity with more than one thousand years. Judaism, which sprang Christianity, is the oldest of the latter (Paul, 1976). Christianity came into being in the middle of the time when the chief mankind’s religions were coming into existence. Majority of those faiths were born in the 13th centuries between 650 B.C – A.D 650. The ones that survived Hinduism and Judaism started ahead of 650 B.C. At that moment, a religious ferment existed among civilized human beings that within a certain comparatively precise span brought many of the major sophisticated religions that have since formed the humanity (Paul, 1976). That took place but with small interactions of one another. The only exceptions are Islam and Christianity. The two were heavily Judaism indebted and Islam was being influenced by Christianity and Judaism. The Christianity youth being very important might also mean that it would be transient. The other chief religions have woken up, prospered, reached their top, and later plunged into a slow reduction or have altogether turned stationary (Paul, 1976). For instance, Hinduism has declined its extension today in comparison to 1500 years that have passed. Similarly, Buddhism has also not registered imperative benefits for the last five centuries. On the negative side, it has only gained several losses. On the one hand, Confucianism has also not gained a big geographical spread from the time it moved to Korea, Japan and Annam for the several centuries that have passed and is now splitting up (Paul, 1976). Islam has not suffered considerable territory surrender since the change of Iberian Peninsula into Christianity. That process was finished in about four centuries that have passed and in the current century has extended its boundaries forth in a number of areas, known as African South of Sahara. Interestingly, its progress has not been much marked as it was at the beginning. It might be logical to argue that Christianity might also follow the same route and the reality that it is still young might point out, the growth cycle; decay and maturity have not yet attained the advanced stages like the other faiths. That might be supported by the fact that other religions have passed the same path including Christianity within the comparative life span of 13 centuries (Paul, 1976). The arrangement of their foundations in one section of moments and the ongoing weakening of several of them might have an interpretation that all the religions, in an aged accepted utilisation of the term, and comprising of even the Christianity, are waning forces within human beings lives. Indeed, some interpret history and affirm that the battle is outgrowing religious conviction. The losses that have been witnessed in Europe in the current century might seem to foreshadow the death of Christianity. On the other hand, the manner by which Christianity is moving today might be a herald to an assured intensifying future (Paul, 1976). As such, the faith might be far from the starting of its history which would be only in the initial phases of a growing religious conviction. On the other hand, the way Christianity is progressing today might be herald to an undoubtedly intensifying future. As such, the faith might not be very far from starting its history which would only be in the initial phases of the growing influence on the human race. In fact, the faith has shown it biggest geographic expansion in the previous one and half century (Paul, 1976). As the 12th century progressed, and despite several severe losses and adversaries, many people were seen to be deeply rooted in it than any of the other faiths have been before (Paul, 1976). In addition, it has been seen to be more influential in the men’s affairs than all the other religious systems that mankind have known. The weighty side of the evidence seems to be on those who insist that Christianity is only in its initial flush of history plus that it is subject to possess an increasing place in mankind’s life. Therefore, Christianity is seen to contrast with the other religions. The other probable interpretation of Christianity is that it would neither go away completely nor completely turn out victorious in the history, but it would go on, occasionally waning and from time to time waxing within its influence on individuals and the entire human race, until, may be early, may be millenniums therefore, as history demises (Paul, 1976). As a matter of fact, if Christianity is merely close to commencement of its course, then it might be that the structures that it has made whether ritual, intellectual or institutional are in any means continuously characteristic or final. Engagement (Argument for) of the Thesis of the Book When we think of an area where Christianity commenced, it is imperative to bear in mind that even that geographically encircled region, its initial roots in which it sprang from, seemed to guarantee no big future for belief. One of our normal places of the origins of Christianity is Israel (Paul, 1976). Politically, Israel was never important. Israel obtained domains of significant dimensions merely for a precise time under Solomon and David between 900-1000 years before the coming of Christ. At those moments it never ranked with the chief empires. The kingdom thereafter split into two little states, the Southern and Northern Kingdoms, immaterial hocks in the competitions between the big powers within the Nile valleys and of Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Apart from what came religiously, Israel had slight impacts culturally (Paul, 1976). In comparison to its immediate neighbours in Egypt and Mesopotamia, it inhabited a little and unproductive area in the uplands of Palestine. It had diminutive cities and unimpressive buildings. It also had an undistinguished art. Today the Egypt’s monumental ruins, Babylon, Nineveh and Syria symbolizes those of Israel‘s previous and clearly indicate the relative unimportance, from the economic and political position, of the area that Christianity came from. In that perspective, Christianity seems to be in striking distinction with the faiths that turned to be its major rivals (Paul, 1976). Polytheisms, which was displaced by Christianity in the Mediterranean Basin, possessed the prop up of aged and politically dominant cultures and nations. Zoroastrianism was connected to Persia, for many centuries one of the grandest empires on earth. Hinduism was native to India, one of the chief cultural centres of the human race. Another indigenous belief was Buddhism which had became famous early in the land of birch. Both Buddhism and Hindu owed more of their expansion to India’s exterior to the cultural and commerce stature of that territory. Confucianism was close to 2000 years incorporated with China and was one of the planet’s immense civilizations which its extension on the border of the kingdom appeared assured (Paul, 1976). Islam brought unity early among Arabs and in a century of its foundation was propped up by one of the three 3 biggest and most powerful kingdoms of those days. At its beginning, Christianity had little potential connections to be praise. It was until after three centuries passed that it had, via its initial great victories, turned powerful within the Roman Empire. It also achieved political and influential cultural alliance as those other faiths early obsessed. As a matter of fact, it was only the country of Israel that religious development occurred which gave birth to Christianity and Judaism (Paul, 1976). Moreover, it began with minority in comparison to the many people who were present in Israel at that time. Prophetic monotheism that was the basis of Christianity for a long time, commanded the entire support of merely a little part of Israel. The devoted minority were adequately many to appreciate and drop the prophet’s writings. It was via them that the Israel major contributions came on earth. It is in that minority that the direct Christian’s antecedents are found. Yet many Israelites either devitalized or discarded the prophets’ outright messages by concession (Paul, 1976). Still among the fairly unimportant people in which Christianity began, it was merely the digitally lesser portion that could be tallied in the faith’s spiritual ancestry. Complete as considerable, it was mainly those who had a strong belief that they were supposed to be in the progression of the minority who were against Jesus and later crucified Him on the cross (Paul, 1976). It is through the story that Christians have seen how God Works. Therefore, they have come to believe that all the time and far and wide, God has ever been looking for man and confronting him with Himself together with the benchmark that He has put in place for him. And after all that, man goes on to persistently rebel against God and turns corrupt. However, God, because of His love and mercy, has been wrought the redemption of man. God has not performed the manner in which would be thought of. Even the men who have claimed to be very wise have also been blinded by the sins, particularly by self-confidence and pride, that they cannot clearly hear or see God. For reasons that He Himself knows, Christians maintain that God selected as his way for the salvation of man a little, immaterial minority in the Israelites, themselves of insignificant impacts in physical power (Paul, 1976). As the conclusion of God’s revelation of Himself together with man’s redemption of Him, He sent forth His son. His son became the heir of the meek minority and structure on the basics that were put down by them, turned to be the Christian’s faith centre. The story as can viewed from the Christian perspective, might also be written and said in the subsequent style. From the starting of mankind, God has ever been looking forward to make man share His fellowship with Him and in His likeness (Paul, 1976). Surprisingly, God has been respecting man’s liberty and has never forced Himself to man. Thus, He only created people who are never automaton, but who are like Him. In reaction to God’s plan, men were encouraged to fumble for God in all places. Owing to their search, different religions were born. Since they were characterised by man’s sins, they were imperfect and incapable of meeting man’s needs or even fulfil the purpose of God. For some enigmatic reason, God saw among the Israelites a certain minority who were responding to Him (Paul, 1976). Therefore, He decided to reveal Himself completely via one of them who emerged from the progression and via him He made possible man’s salvation. Personal Reaction to the Book It is evident that Christianity is much younger than the universe. But the way it has spread to the entire world is amazing. It has never been seen to fail like other religions have done. This for sure brings the dilemma of whether it is at its initial stages. If it is true that it is in the beginning of its course, then it might also at some instance crumble. In point of fact, since God created man, He has ever been looking to have bad relationship with him. First, this can be attributed by the fact He gave His only Son. The name of His Son is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came on earth to save mankind. God showed a lot of love through allowing His only Son to be killed and crucified on the cross for the sake of cleaning the man’s sins. Often, man has been seen to forget the mighty things that God has done unto him. As such, man has continued to commit sins knowing very well that Christ died for him. However, God has never failed to show love and mercy on him. When man is in trouble and he has sinned, God does not leave him to solve his problems alone. God intervenes, helps man and gives him enough chance to repent his sins. This can be attributed by the children of Israel who sometimes sinned but God did never leave them alone. Jesus Christ was the real Son of God because of the exceptional things He used to do on earth. First, Jesus performed several miracles such as feeding several people with little fish and breads which did not have the intention of meeting human needs. Second, He healed several people secretly without showing off his powers. Jesus selected his close friends from different walks of life. In this, we can learn how to live with others during both hard and easy times. Jesus did not have the intention of harming Judas although He knew his mission. That also teaches us to trust in God to be our shield and protection all the times. What can be learnt from this book is that God loves all people irrespective of what they do on earth. In addition, God can appoint one man in the midst of many if he shows response to Him and use him to save the world. References Johnson, P. (1976). History of Christianity. Touchstone: Illinois Read More