Cook, William R.. Great Courses Audio.

Read by William R. Cook

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

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