The Catholic Church: A History

By: William R. Cook, The Great Courses

Narrated by: William R. Cook

Length: 19 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

How did the Catholic Church become one of the most influential institutions in the world - a force capable of moving armies, inspiring saints, and shaping the lives of a billion members?

Explore these and other questions as you follow the development of this important institution in 36 informative, fascinating lectures. With Professor Cook by your side, you'll step into the world of the early church, witness the spread of Christendom, and learn about the origins of fundamental church institutions.

Your journey begins in the early years of the church, when Jesus's disciples developed the first communities of faith. You'll get a chance to delve into crucial ancient church documents and gain an intriguing glimpse into the lives of these early believers. From there, you'll trace the development and spread of this nascent religion throughout the world, covering crucial developments including the conversion of the Roman Empire to Catholicism, the schism between the Roman faith and the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Reformation.

As you delve into this fascinating saga, you'll quickly see that the Catholic Church actually takes many forms. You'll trace the many variations of worship and belief that evolved as Christianity spread all over the Mediterranean, and you'll witness how Catholic practice and faith have been transformed by the cultures and peoples it has touched. Professor Cook brings an unparalleled intellectual rigor to his presentation, balanced by a deep appreciation of the church's legacy and impact. Join him on this epic journey through Catholic history, and experience how this small gathering of faithful became one of the most powerful forces on the world stage - the "one holy catholic and apostolic Church."

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

©2009 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2009 The Great Courses

Great job

As a catholic who knows their history, it was great to see a truthful look at our faith and church. Great job

Great Title

A very interesting overview of Catholic history. Less chronological than some other lecture series available. Dr. Cook instead follows movements and ideas and groups his lectures by them. So for instance lecture 27 looks at American Catholicism as a whole, but then he jumps back to the Age of Reason in lecture 28, examining overlapping time scales through different lenses. This can make it more difficult to follow for some. Still it's very informative.

A great overview of Catholic history

Engaging professor. These lectures follow mainly a chronological narrative of the Catholic Church, pausing at times in certain eras for several lectures to cover different aspects of development. The professor is a Catholic but does not shield the Church from criticism where warranted. Much of the focus is on theological developments over time rather than just rote history

The book delivers on the content

The book or actually the lectures series commits and delivers an objective and historical account of Catholicism. The details are rich and the observations are keen. What it is not, is hours of evangelizing Roman Catholic doctrine. It is a historical review of christianity and by proxy western culture.

Great information

The course contains great information but at times can be overwhelming. But then how do you give a history lesson of 2000 years in just 36 lessons. The instructor is very knowledgeable and speak well.

Strengthens my Catholic Faith

I am Catholic and this book was very enlightening, making me more firm in my belief in the Catholic Church. I especially liked his point about how quick people are to criticize the Church or leave the Church because of a pedophile priest but don't think about the fact that they are also leaving Mother Teresa, St Francis and all those like them. He also clearly explains how the Church is present for each age and that it is truly holy, catholic and apostolic.

Concise History of the Universal Church

What made the experience of listening to The Catholic Church: A History the most enjoyable?

The Catholic Church A History is by one of the professors of Dante's Comedy, clearly Catholic. He goes through the primitive church up till the Schism with Orthodoxy and the Reform, and all the way up till modern American Catholicism. The professor knows his stuff very well and shares it well. The course shows the validity of the claim that the Catholic Church is the Church that Christ founded, although it's not an apologetics course but rather focuses on what happened, how, and why.

Any additional comments?

The very first lecture of the course is a MUST for anyone who wishes to know about Christianity and the role that the Catholic Church has had in the world. Though it has been a center for controversy, it's also a strong force of good to the world, so anyone who wishes to be objective when discussing religion, should listen to at least the first lecture.

Very informative - a little biased

I found really informative.

LECTURE GUIDES

LECTURE 1 - From Jesus to the Creation of the Church
LECTURE 2 - The First Christian Institutions
LECTURE 3 - Christianities in the Early Church
LECTURE 4 - Persecution and Saints
LECTURE 5 - Peace between Empire and Church
LECTURE 6 - Institutional and Doctrinal Developments
LECTURE 7 - Latin Theology, Including Augustine
LECTURE 8 - Popes and Bishops in the Early Middle Ages
LECTURE 9 - Monasticism—Benedict and His Rule
LECTURE 10 - Evangelizing Northern and Eastern Europe
LECTURE 11 - The Germanization of Christianity
LECTURE 12 - Charlemagne and the Church in Feudal Times
LECTURE 13 - Monks and Hermits—New Forms of Monasticism
LECTURE 14 - Papal Reform and Church-State Controversies
LECTURE 15 - Crusade, Heresy, Inquisition
LECTURE 16 - The Papacy—Innocent III to Boniface VIII
LECTURE 17 - Francis, Dominic, and the Mendicants
LECTURE 18 - Flowering of Church Art in the Middle Ages
LECTURE 19 - Scholastic Thought
LECTURE 20 - Medieval Mysticism
LECTURE 21 - The Great Schism and the Conciliar Age
LECTURE 22 - The Renaissance Church
LECTURE 23 - Luther, Calvin, and the Reformation
LECTURE 24 - Catholic Responses—The Council of Trent
LECTURE 25 - The Jesuits
LECTURE 26 - Catholicism in Asia and the New World
LECTURE 27 - American Catholicism
LECTURE 28 - The Church in the Age of Reason
LECTURE 29 - Pius IX and Papal Infallibility
LECTURE 30 - Leo XIII and the Modern World
LECTURE 31 - The Eastern Catholic Churches
LECTURE 32 - The Second Vatican Council
LECTURE 33 - The Catholic Church Looks Outward
LECTURE 34 - The Challenges of New Theologies
LECTURE 35 - John Paul II and the 21st-Century Church
LECTURE 36 - One? Holy? Catholic? Apostolic?

Excellent Presentation

I found the narrative, "The Catholic Church: A History" given by Professor Cook excellent, bordering on truly exceptional. I liked the organization of the lecture material and found the content very informative and interesting. Professor Cook's spoken words were very easy for me to follow and stay focused on. Thank you for your presentation!

Fair and balanced, and hopeful for Christians

Professor Cook has a great scope of understanding of world events and how the Church was affected and reacted throughout the course of history. He also takes the time to discuss key doctrines in development of the early church and key players in reform and orthodoxy within the Church. His concluding message is hopeful for Catholics, all Christians.