An Anvil original

With the aid of over sixty important sources, most of them translated and abridged by the author, this brief history brings an age of upheaval into sharp focus. It shows succinctly how a compelling ideology, the Christian faith, shaped the history of the Reformation. The religious revolution of the sixteenth century shattered an ecclesiastical structure and quickened a universal faith. The Christian heritage which the Reformation revitalized and transmitted to our time is still the source of Western man's ability to talk in terms of a universal justice, humanity, and the rights of man.

The sentiments at the heart of this book are admirable: an understanding that democracy is constantly evolving (“democracy is the only political system... which accepts its perfectibility.... Democracy is always to come”); the belief that it is only by engaging the Other that we can end humanity's struggles; the need to remember that there is no single way of being Muslim or Western. However, the ideas are enervated by their poor presentation; the conversation between Derrida and Chérif is meandering and esoteric and not intended for a general audience; furthermore, this slim volume is also deeply repetitive and all but devoid of actionable suggestions—readers will be frustrated by repeated calls for dialogue that come unencumbered by suggestions as to how to work toward that goal. The book's most peculiar flaw is its paucity of Derrida—the short conversation is overwhelmed by two introductions, a conclusion and a touching afterword—a eulogy to the philosopher, who died some 15 months after this discussion took place.

This concise and engaging introduction to the history of early Christianity examines the development of Christianity from its origins up through the year 620. Accessible to beginning students with no background in the subject, Early Christianity: A Brief History is also captivating reading for more advanced students. The book is organized chronologically into four parts: The Contexts of Early Christianity, Christianity in the Second and Third Centuries, The Creation of a Christian Empire, and Life in the Christian Empire. Each part begins with a timeline in order to guide students in the chronology of events. Opening with a look at the historical Jesus--which considers what we know and how we know it--the book continues on with coverage of the Jewish and Roman worlds in which Christianity arose. It then charts the extraordinary progress of Christianity, ranging from its status as a fringe sect in Judaism, to that of a dominant religion, up through the reign of Pope Gregory I. Chapters on society and culture and an epilogue on Muhammad and the rise of Islam are also included.

A history of the development of major U.S. businesses, such as banks, railroads, oil & steel companies, etc. and the men who founded them. Includes a collection of documents pertaining to business, dating from the Pilgrims to the mid-20th century.