The Catholic Church: A History

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?