Books like Christianity on trial by Vincent Carroll

C.S. Lewis’ radio talks, later published as three books, are compiled in "Mere Christianity," a clear apologia that explores core Christian beliefs and ethics across denominations.

In *Orthodoxy*, G.K. Chesterton responds to critics of his earlier essays, arguing that Christianity offers a universal, practical answer to everyday life, superseding earlier Pagan, agnostic, and positivist philosophies.

A comprehensive introduction to worldviews, offering clear, student-friendly explanations of theism, naturalism, Marxism, nihilism, existentialism, and more, with a new chapter on Islam and sidebars for quick reference.

Dr. Francis Collins, former head of the Human Genome Project, argues that faith and scientific evidence for evolution are compatible, offering a modern synthesis of Christianity and biology that invites believers, skeptics and scientists alike to see God in the code of life.

Karen Armstrong traces humanity’s lifelong quest to answer profound questions through the evolving concept of God, focusing on Western monotheistic traditions, especially Christianity.

American Priestess charts the rise of a charismatic American Christian community in Jerusalem during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, examining its role in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate, and the birth of Israel.

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.

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.

Jesus Wars reveals how official, orthodox teaching about Jesus was the product of political maneuvers by a handful of key characters in the fifth century. Jenkins argues that were it not for these controversies, the papacy as we know it would never have come into existence and that today's church could be teaching some-thing very different about Jesus. It is only an accident of history that one group of Roman emperors and militia-wielding bishops defeated another faction.Christianity claims that Jesus was, somehow, both human and divine. But the Bible is anything but clear about Jesus's true identity. In fact, a wide range of opinions and beliefs about Jesus circulated in the church for four hundred years until allied factions of Roman royalty and church leaders burned cities and killed thousands of people in an unprecedented effort to stamp out heresy.Jenkins recounts the fascinating, violent story of the church's fifth-century battles over "right belief" that had a far greater impact on the future of Christianity and the world than the much-touted Council of Nicea convened by Constantine a century before.

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.

Lee Strobel guides readers on a rigorous investigation into the evidence for Jesus as the Son of God, challenging scholars and examining historical, textual, and scientific arguments.

A concise introduction to twelve Greek and seven Latin church fathers, offering biographical sketches and contextual analysis of their theological contributions.