Description

A History of Christianity is a historical study of the Christian Religion written by British journalist and author Paul Johnson. The book was written in the mid 1970s and reflects what Johnson perceives as "...public Christianity in headlong retreat...". (517) Johnson, a Roman Catholic, takes the view that "During these two millennia Christianity has, perhaps, proved more influential in shaping human destiny than any other institutional philosophy, but there are now signs that its period of predominance is drawing to a close, thereby inviting a retrospect and a balance sheet." (vii) He writes in the last part: "[I]s the expression 'decline' appropriate? If the claims of Christianity are true, then the number of those who publicly acknowledge them is of small importance; if they are not true, the matter is scarcely worth discussing." (514) A running theme of the work is that "Christianity is essentially a historical religion. It bases its claims on the historical facts it asserts. If they are demolished it is nothing." (vii)