What is Christianity?. Douglas Jacobsen

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What Is Christianity?

       Douglas Jacobsen

This edition first published 2022

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       Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Names: Jacobsen, Douglas G. (Douglas Gordon), 1951- author. Title: What is Christianity? : a short introduction to Christianity and its major sub-traditions / Douglas Jacobsen. Description: Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2021024449 (print) | LCCN 2021024450 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119746690 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119746706 (pdf) | ISBN 9781119746713 (epub) Subjects: LCSH: Christian sects. | Christianity. | Church history. Classification: LCC BR157 .J33 2022 (print) | LCC BR157 (ebook) | DDC 280–dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021024449LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021024450

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Contents

      1  Cover

      2  Title page

      3  Copyright

      4  Dedication

      5  List of Figures

      6  List of Tables

      7  Introduction: What Is Christianity?

      8 1 Christian BeginningsThe Jewish Roots of ChristianityJesus and the GospelChristianity’s Original DiversityEmergence of the Great ChurchThe Roman Imperial ChurchChristian Diversity and Unity in the Year 500The Great DivisionThe “Traditioning” of Christianity

      9 2 Orthodoxy: Preserving Ancient WaysOrthodox SpiritualityThe Orthodox Understanding of SalvationOrthodox HistoryInstitutional and Social Structure of Orthodoxy

      10 3 Catholicism: The ChurchCatholic SpiritualityThe Catholic Understanding of SalvationCatholic HistoryInstitutional and Social Structure of Catholicism

      11 4 Protestantism: The Bible and the IndividualProtestant SpiritualityThe Protestant Understanding of SalvationProtestant HistoryInstitutional and Social Structure of Protestantism

      12 5 Pentecostalism: The Power of the SpiritPentecostal SpiritualityThe Pentecostal Understanding of SalvationPentecostal HistoryInstitutional and Social Structure of Pentecostalism

      13 6 Becoming GlobalCatholic GlobalizationProtestant GlobalizationThe Bigger Picture: From Eurocentrism to World Christianity

      14 7 The Contemporary Geography of ChristianityMapping Christianity’s Regional DifferencesThe Middle East and North AfricaEastern EuropeWestern EuropeIndia and Central AsiaSub-Saharan AfricaEast AsiaLatin AmericaNorth AmericaOceaniaChristian Interactions Today

      15 8 Common Threads and Shared ChallengesCommon Threads in the Early Christian MovementThe Modern Search for Christian UnityChristian Commonalities TodayContemporary Challenges

      16