John Dickson on the Spanish Inquisition and the North Ireland Conflict

John Dickson is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. I just finished Life of Jesus which is due out any day now. In one of the chapters he covers the now common complaint from the New Atheists that Christianity inherently perpetuates violence. He looks at two events in particular: the Spanish Inquisition and the North Ireland conflict. Here’s how he puts it:

“The Spanish Inquisition is often thought to be Christianity at its most bloodthirsty with hundreds of thousands of heretics killed (trawl the Internet and you will even find estimates of a million or more). However, it is 350-year history, the Spanish Inquisition probably killed around 6,000 people. That comes out at eighteen deaths a year. Of course, one a year-one ever-is too much, but the figure hardly sustains the monstrous narratives we often hear. Or take the iconic Northern Ireland conflict. The thirty-year ‘troubles’ led to the deaths of fewer than 4,000 people. Again, one death ‘in the name of Christ’ is a blasphemy, but how did the Northern Ireland conflict ever come to symbolize the ferocity of the church? Compare it with the thoroughly secular French Revolution. As many people were executed in the name of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’ in a single year of the Revolution (the ‘Terror’ of September 1793-July 1794) as were killed in the entire three decades of the ‘troubles.’ And I am still in favour of liberty, equality and fraternity.

And this is my second problem with the complaint of Hitchens and others. The violence of Christendom is dwarfed by that of non-religious causes, such as World War I (8,000,000 deaths) and World War II (35,000,000 deaths). Then there is the very awkward fact that the twentieth century’s three great atheistic regimes were hotbeds of unrestrained violence. Joseph Stalin’s openly atheistic project killed at least 20,000,000 people, which is more people each week than the Spanish Inquisition killed in its entire 350-year history. Pol Pot, another avowed atheist, is known to have slaughtered 2,000,000 people out of a population of 8,000,000. I must emphasize that this is not to claim that atheists are more violent than Christians. It simply underlines that violence is a perennial human problem, not a specifically religious one. And those like Christopher Hitchens who suggest that these communist regimes were quasi-religious in their zeal and so provide further evidence of the pernicious effect of religion have abandoned sincere investigation into the problem and settled upon crass anti-religious apologetics. Better to state the obvious: religion or irreligion can inspire hatred.” (68-69)

Amen and amen!

Larry Hurtado Starts a Blog

I'm excited to see that Larry Hurtado, professor of New Testament Language, Literature, and Theology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, has started his own blog.  His book, Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity, is a masterpiece of Christological scholarship.  If anyone wants to know if the early Church had a high view of Jesus this is must reading.  His scholarship is characterized by careful attention to detail without overplaying the evidence.  Here's just a sample:

"I reiterate the observation that, in terms of the religious scruples of the ancient Jewish tradition, the most striking innovation in earliest Christian circles was to include Christ with God as recipient of cultic devotion.  What could have prompted such a major innovation in the devotional scruples and practices that were inherited from the Jewish tradition?  What might have moved Christian Jews to feel free to offer to Christ this unparalleled cultic devotion?  In light of the characteristic reluctance of devout Jews to accord cultic reverence to any figure other than God, it seems likely that those very early circles who took the step of according Christ such reverence would have done so only if they felt compelled by God.  That is, in these groups there must have been some who experienced what they took to be revelations sent by God that convinced them that obedience to God demanded of them this cultic reverence of Christ." (Emphasis his, 72) 

His blog will warrant frequent visits.  Here's his YouTube feature on How Did Jesus Become a God? 

In Store Now - The Church History ABCs

Church history for kids?  Yea, and what fun it is!  We got our copies in of The Church History ABCs by Stephen J. Nichols and Ned Bustard and it is every thing I imagined and more.  You can see two of the pages here on Jonathan Edwards and Martin Luther.  The writing is simple and clear and the illustrations are fun.  It's time we put some fun into the study of Church history and Nichols and Bustard have given us a great start.  A pleasant surprise for me was to find additional material in the back of the book on each character to help "fill in the picture."  It provides the dates when each person lived and provides some extra details plus an explanation of some of the details in the illustrations.  For example, here's what it says about the illustration of Luther:

"Engraved on the head of the mallet is Luther's seal or symbol, which consists of a black cross in a red heart in a white rose against a blue sky, all enclosed by a gold circle.  All of these have meaning for him.  Perhaps you can do some detective work and find out why.  He's also hold a lute, an early version of the guitar.  Luther loved music and wrote a number of great hymns, such as 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.'"  (32) 

There is also a website for the book with some fun activities and some marvelous illustrations by kids including one of R. C. Sproul with the caption "This is R C Sproul.  He makes me fall asleep."  You gotta love it. 

Finally, let me add a personal thank you to Stephen Nichols for signing a copy for me.  My manager brought it back from a recent trade show convention in St. Louis along with the happy news that Stephen has actually read my blog.  I wish this book the greatest success.  Our kids will only benefit from knowing the rich history that has preceded them.  It is only right that they get a chance to meet them.  I have three grand kids who will be growing up reading about them.  

The Church History ABCs is a hardcover from Crossway with 34 pages and sells for $15.99.  It is 9 x 12 inches. 

Stephen J. Nichols has written twelve books and is a research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School.

Ned Bustard is a graphic artist and has written and illustrated many children's book, including Ella Sings Jazz, The Story of Sir Galahad, and The Sailing Saint.

In Store Now - From Nicaea to Chalcedon 2nd edition

I was so happy when I saw From Nicaea to Chalcedon arrive in the store.  When I first heard about it at our sales conference I was chomping at the bit to read it.  Early on I can see why the first edition was so highly praised.  This is a veritable banquet for church history lovers.  Here's the catalog description:

"In this volume, a world-renowned scholar of early Christianity updates and expands her classic survey of the writers and writings of the golden age of Greek patristic theology. This reliable guide to Christian literature from the late third century to the mid fifth century is more accessible than specialized works on individual authors but more informative than coverage provided by general histories and reference works. The second edition has been revised throughout for use by a new generation of students and scholars and includes a new chapter and updated bibliographies."

And as I said the praise could not be higher.  Consider these endorsements for the second edition:

"Since its first appearance in 1983, From Nicaea to Chalcedon has been the best available introduction in English--for readers serious about patristic theology and early church history--to the crucially important personalities and theological works that dominated fourth- and fifth-century debate about Jesus' relationship to God and to us all. This new edition significantly expands and enriches that book and brings us face to face with the best of current scholarship on the period, yet it still retains the balance, breadth of scope, and critical good sense that has always made it so valuable. It is an indispensable guide for anyone wanting to get a clear view of the early development of classical Christian doctrine."--Brian E. Daley, SJ, Catherine F. Husking Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame

"The original edition of Frances Young's From Nicaea to Chalcedon established itself immediately as the best introduction to the Greek patristic tradition in the golden age of the first four councils. It approached the fathers through their writings, and with conciseness and clarity it enabled students to read them with intelligence and understanding. This new edition surpasses the old, not only bringing it up to date after a quarter of a century of unprecedented scholarly activity, demonstrating an easy command of the shoal of new literature, but also introducing students to new approaches, some of which Prof. Young herself has pioneered. A new feature is a whole chapter devoted to ascetic writings, the 'literature of the desert.' This is an indispensable work, revealing new insights on every page."--Andrew Louth, professor of patristic and Byzantine studies, Durham University

"From Nicaea to Chalcedon has been a standard in the field for twenty-five years. In clear, elegant prose and with close attention to the original texts, this book opens a window for students into not only Young's own views of the figures she covers but also a wide range of relevant scholarly debates and controversies. This thorough updating constitutes a deep revision of the original, not just the addition of new bibliography. We are anew in Prof. Young's debt!"--Lewis Ayres, Bede Professor of Catholic Theology, Durham University

"The original edition of From Nicaea to Chalcedon was a standard work on the most illuminating Greek writers of the fourth and early fifth centuries. This new edition deserves to assume that status also. Since so much of this period has been reconstructed and rewritten over the last thirty years, a patrological-style handbook as produced here is most welcome."--D. H. Williams, professor of religion in patristics and historical theology, Baylor University

From Nicaea to Chalcedon is by Frances M. Young and Andrew Teal and comes from Baker Academic with 406 pages and sells for $39.99. 

Frances M. Young (PhD, University of Cambridge) is the retired Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology at the University of Birmingham, England, and a Fellow of the British Academy. The lead editor of The Cambridge History of Early Christian Literature and the author of numerous books in patristics and New Testament studies, she is also an ordained Methodist minister.

Andrew Teal (PhD, University of Birmingham) is tutor in church history at Ripon College Cuddesdon and chaplain of Pembroke College of the University of Oxford.

Coming Soon from Crossway - The Church History ABCs

If there was one section of the store I would love to expand it would be the church history section.  The problem is when I've tried to expand the section with more titles very little sells.  The average person in the pew has virtually no knowlege of the history of the church especially past the Reformation.  So along comes a book that says let's start teaching church history at an earlier age and I say YES!  Church historian Steve Nichols and illustrator Ned Bustard have teamed up to give us The Church History ABCs.  This book looks like a lot of fun.  Here's how the catalog describes it:

"Dramatically converted on the stormy seas, a slave-trader-turned-abolitionist penned the best-loved hymn of the Christian faith. A church father was arrested and martyred for teaching the truth about Christ’s incarnation. Captured by pirates and shipped off to Ireland, a priest baptized thousands of pagans, from paupers to princes. Now who ever said church history was boring?

The Church History ABCs is a fun way for kids to learn about great figures in Christian history. Twenty-six heroes of the faith march through the alphabet, boldly telling their stories in language children can understand. This wide range of characters—men and women from across the centuries, from all over the globe—reflects the breadth of church history and reminds children that these great figures of the past were living, breathing people who lived and died for the glory of God."

But there's more.  The book has a website which offers a "gallery" of kids' drawings of some of the great heros of the faith.  Tertullian looks a bit like a pirate if you ask me.  There are coloring pages and a "Martin Luther Maze."  I'm sure we can expect more to come.  This would be great for parents and grandparents not to mention Sunday School teachers.

Update:  I received the complete list of people treated.  Here they are:

A - Augustine
B - Anne Bradstreet
C - John Calvin
D - John Donne
E - Jonathan Edwards
F - John Foxe
G - Lady Jane Grey
H - Hippolytus
I - Ignatius
J - Absalom Jones
K - John Knox
L - Martin Luther
M - Monica
N - John Newton
O - John Owen
P - Patrick
Q - Queen Jeanne of Navarre
R - Nicholas Ridley
S - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
T - Tertullian
U - Zacharias Ursinus
V - Vivaldi
W - John and Charles Wesley
X - Xavier
Y - Florence Young
Z - Ulrich Zwingli

Look for it this June.  It will be a hardcover with 80? pages and sell for $15.99.

This Week in History - The Azusa Street Revival

This week celebrates the anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival. If you’re not Pentecostal or Charismatic this may be unfamiliar to you. The Azusa Street Revival has been called the “cradle of Pentecostalism.” In April 1906 a one-eyed African American preacher, William Seymour, moved into an abandoned African Methodist Church and started preaching about the power of the Holy Spirit with special emphasis on the gift of tongues as evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It didn’t take long before a revival broke out with many speaking in tongues. The Los Angeles Times reported on it with an article titled “Weird Babel of Tongues.” In spite of the mockery by the Times services were held three times a day seven days a week for over three years. People came from around the world to see for themselves what the phenomenon was all about. Many came as skeptics and left believers. Azusa’s first historian, Frank Bartleman (1871-1936), wrote this concerning the interracial character of the revival: “The ‘color line’ was washed away in the blood.’” Seymour himself wrote “This meeting has been a melting time. The people are all melted together by the power of the blood and the Holy Ghost. They are made one lump, one bread, all one body in Christ Jesus. There is no Jew or Gentile, bond or free, in the Azusa Street Mission.” (The American Evangelical Story by Douglas A. Sweeney, 146-147

Vinson Synan observes “The historical records show that the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa all recognized that the new movement began in Los Angeles under a black pastor.” (An Eyewitness Remembers the Century of the Holy Spirit, 23)

312 Azusa Street

The building was eventually torn down to make room for a parking lot.  It's now the site of a plaza next to a Japanese American cultural center in "Little Tokyo" in Los Angeles. 

Copy of the Los Angeles Times reporting on the "Weird Babel of Tongues"

Both pictures are from Wikipedia and are public domain.  For more information see the links above and books cited.  You may also want to look at these links:

The Azusa Street Project
312 Azusa Street

In Store Now - The Great Theologians

In light of Tuesday's post I thought it would be appropriate to feature this new book from Gerald McDermott. The Great Theologians: A Brief Guide came in this week and from what I’ve read already it is an excellent book. It is a great introduction to some of the theologians of the past. McDermott covers eleven theologians. His choice of these eleven is, he admits, a subjective one. But he says he believes these eleven “have had the most influence on the history of Christian thought.” (13) He also acknowledges that the influence has not always been a good one. He notes that Schleiermacher “caused multitudes to question orthodoxy” but he included him because his “influence has been enormous.” (14) He does say if this book does well he may write another one devoted to some of the figures he has omitted.

The format of the book is a simple one. He begins with a brief biographical sketch. Then he offers some of that theologian’s main themes of that person’s thinking. He then zeros in on one of those themes that is distinctive to that thinker and examines it in some detail. He ends with highlighting several lessons that we can learn from the theologian. He also provides a short selection from the theologian’s writings (roughly 200 – 400 words) and a list of books for further reading. There are also questions at the end of each chapter for reflection and discussion.  This would make an excellent small group study. 

I thoroughly agree with him when he writes:

“Ignoring the great and godly minds of the church—who have been ruminating on God for thousands of years—when we have them at our fingertips through books and even the Internet seems to be a kind of arrogance and presumption. It ignores the biblical reminder that there is wisdom in ‘the multitude of counselors’ (Prov. 11:14 KJV).” (12)

Just for fun I thought I would give you a little quiz from some of the autobiographical details McDermott provides to see if you could guess who they might be. I admit I wouldn't have gotten very many.  Okay, probably none at all.  Answers are at the bottom of the post.  Have fun!

1) His parents were so set against him becoming a Dominican that they hired a prostitute to “blacken his reputation.” He chased her away with a burning brand from a fire.

2) His enemies spread rumors saying he dabbled in magic and accused him of killing a bishop and then cutting off the murdered bishop’s hand for use in special magical rites.

3) This theologian had such a great desire to be a martyr his mother had to hide his clothes in order to prevent him from appearing in public.

4) He loved to relax in a garden and “in defiance of the devil” delighted in flowers, especially roses, as God’s gift.

5) He said that wine is not only “very healthy” but is given to us to make us “merry.” He owned the largest wine cellar in his city.

6) Speaking of wine, this theologian knew enough about different wines that he could prescribe particular varieties to his children when they were sick. He also liked brandy, rum and he and his family were crazy about chocolate.

7) This theologian told the church it did not need to believe in the Trinity, the virgin birth or the second coming of Christ.

The book is a paperback from IVP Academic with 214 pages and sells for $20.00.  Go here for a short Q&A with the author. 

Answers:  1) Thomas Aquinas; 2) Athanasius; 3) Origen; 4) Martin Luther; 5) John Calvin; 6) Jonathan Edwards; 7) Schleiermacher.