Books like American priestess by Jane Fletcher Geniesse

Stephen O'Shea’s The Perfect Heresy traces the rise and fall of the Cathars in 13th‑century Languedoc, revealing how their radical beliefs sparked an 180‑year crusade that reshaped France and inaugurated the Inquisition.

A captivating exploration of Christianity's growth and spread across the Roman Empire through quantitative data and groundbreaking insights from prominent historian Rodney Stark.

Early Christianity in the context of Roman society raises important questions for historians, sociologists of religion and theologians alike. This work explores the differing perspectives arising from a changing social and academic culture. Key issues concerning early Christianity are addressed, such as how early Christian accounts of pagans, Jews and heretics can be challenged and the degree to which Christian groups offered support to their members and to those in need. The work examines how non-Christians reacted to the spectacle of martyrdom and to Christian reverence for relics. Questions are also raised about why some Christians encouraged others to abandon wealth, status and gender-roles for extreme ascetic lifestyles and about whether Christian preachers trained in classical culture offered moral education to all or only to the social elite. The interdisciplinary and thematic approach offers the student of early Christianity a comprehensive treatment of its role and influence in Roman society.

Who Are the Mormons?The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:Has over 12.5 million members worldwide and is one of the fastest-growing and most centrally controlled U.S.-based religionsIs by far the richest religion in the United States per capita, with $25 to $30 billion in estimated assets and $5 to $6 billion more in estimated annual incomeBoasts such influential members as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and presidential candidate Mitt Romney

Vincent Carroll examines the modern criticism of Christianity, arguing that the emphasis on its alleged harms stems from historical illiteracy and that the faith has instead fostered morality, intellectual inquiry, and social reform.

From the fall of the Roman Empire to the First Crusade, Tom Holland traces how Christendom survived threat and forged Europe into a new, expansionist civilization that laid the foundations of the modern West.

Twin sisters Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson journey to Sinai in 1892, explore Convent of Saint Catherine’s library, and discover a pivotal palimpsest that reshaped the Gospels’ historical understanding.

In this groundbreaking book, renowned religion scholar Philip Jenkins offers a lost history, revealing that, for centuries, Christianity's center was actually in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, with significant communities extending as far as China. The Lost History of Christianity unveils a vast and forgotten network of the world's largest and most influential Christian churches that existed to the east of the Roman Empire. These churches and their leaders ruled the Middle East for centuries and became the chief administrators and academics in the new Muslim empire. The author recounts the shocking history of how these churches — those that had the closest link to Jesus and the early church — died.Jenkins takes a stand against current scholars who assert that variant, alternative Christianities disappeared in the fourth and fifth centuries on the heels of a newly formed hierarchy under Constantine, intent on crushing unorthodox views. In reality, Jenkins says, the largest churches in the world were the 'heretics' who lost the orthodoxy battles. These so-called heretics were in fact the most influential Christian groups throughout Asia, and their influence lasted an additional one thousand years beyond their supposed demise.Jenkins offers a new lens through which to view our world today, including the current conflicts in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Without this lost history, we lack an important element for understanding our collective religious past. By understanding the forgotten catastrophe that befell Christianity, we can appreciate the surprising new births that are occurring in our own time, once again making Christianity a true world religion.

An authoritative, global history of Christianity tracing its ideas, personalities, and influence from the first century Palestine to twentieth‑century South Korea.

A compelling look at the rise and fall of the Fox sisters and the birth of Spiritualism in America, blending historical narrative with supernatural elements.