A review by ryberst
Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch

4.0

There is a part of me that wants to rate this a good solid five, while the other part of me wants to give a mid-line three. The research is fantastic, and the scope comprehensive. Unlike many, MacCulloch's text keeps an eye on the numerous alternatives to the RCC as well as the RCC itself. He does not tend to reduce "Eastern Orthodox" to the "other" Christianity, but shows the diversity of of various forms of Eastern Christianity. Earlier this year I read Paul Johnson's History of Christianity and was greatly disappointed with his unapologetic devotion to liberal secular thought (downplaying and demonizing Augustine). MacCulloch hides his devotion to secularism much better than Johnson. But it is there. MacCulloch is primarily a historian. In the introduction, he claims to be "a friend to Christianity." He is fair, he is balanced (haha), but he is absolutely coming from a modern historical assumption. That which is miraculous or supernatural is interpreted as "historical accident." Thus, it gets a four.