Saints, Sinners, and Christian History: The Contradictions of the Christian Past - Softcover

James S. Packer

9781599551371: Saints, Sinners, and Christian History: The Contradictions of the Christian Past

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1599551373 ISBN 13: 9781599551371

Publisher: Cedar Fort, 2008

Tradition dictates that around AD 33, as the Roman Empire slowly decayed, a new religion rose to prominence: Christianity. Two thousand years later, Christianity stands triumphant as one of the greatest religions on earth. It teaches love, peace, and acceptance - but its rise to prominence was fraught with just the opposite. In the early centuries after the death of Christ, Christianity was a seething cauldron of contradictions and compromise, corruption and convenience. As the leaders of state tried to weave this new religion into their agendas and their subjects' lives, elements of legend, paganism, and personal philosophy became imbedded with truth. Saints, Sinners, and Christian History takes a careful look at the history of Christianity, a history full of war, murder, lies, and immorality. As evil men performed evil acts in the name of Christ, many true elements of Christianity were lost, while others survived - but how? What steps did men, both saints and sinners, take in their quest to build Christianity? This book will bring you to a better understanding of present Christianity as you uncover its past.

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About the Author:

It is hard to believe that anyone could have had as happy a childhood as Dr. Packer had, being raised in the southeastern corner of New Mexico in the 1930s in a town called Carlsbad. At the time, it was an economically deprived area, a dry, dusty little town with few chances for career development. To a ten-year-old-boy with a bicycle, the usually full Pecos River, and miles and miles of area to explore - it was heaven! The vagaries of trying to raise a crop in the desert or deal with the hassles of butting heads with hard-headed eastern companies attempting to extract potash in that bone dry desert bothered little boys not at all. Living in that paradise was hard for Dr. Packer, but further horizon beckoned. In 1945 his family packed up and headed for Peru - where a different kind of paradise, and where for him, future choices had to be made. After many travels and experiences, Dr. Packer earned BS and MA degrees at the University of Utah, and his PhD at Utah State University. While working on his PhD in entomology at Utah State University (completed in 1970), his thesis committee challenged his determination to take a beginning journalism course as a waste. His professor in that course further guaranteed an "A" to any student who published writing from that class. Dr. Packer published all three of the articles he wrote for that class and never looked back. Since then, he has published extensively in many magazines, including The Ensign, American Heritage, Smithsonian Magazine, and Family Circle, on topics such as archaeology of the Book of Mormon, a variety of scientific articles, and gunshot wounds in the Old West. That initial journalism experience also led him to a career as the managing editor of a major scientific organization, editor of scientific journals and in scientific publishing, which further led to teaching journalism courses at the university level. He also served as the Director of Communications for the Senatorial Campaign for Elder V. Dallas Merrill in Maryland. While in Maryland, he taught in the LDS Church "Know Your Religion" series all over the Midwest and the East Coast from Virginia to Canada. Academically, Dr. Packer has been recognized in his studies by the Ford Foundation for early Admissions, a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship, and a Fulbright Lectureship in Colombia (which he reluctantly had to turn down). He and his wife lived in Central America for several years, where he served as a department head and taught scientific courses at an agricultural college - in Spanish. Dr. Packer lived and worked in South and Central America for about twelve years. After Central America, he and his wife and family settled down in Maryland for the next thirty years and raised their five daughters there. During their thirty years in Maryland, Dr. Packer rose to the level of executive director of several national nonprofit organizations. He has served the Church twice as district president, twice as bishop, and as a counselor in the Silver Spring, Maryland, stake presidency. He served his mission in Argentina, has been a temple ordinance worker, Church Institute of Religion instructor, and served on the high council for many years. While living in Maryland, he taught the Gospel Doctrine course for approximately sixteen years. Dr. Packer is now retired and resides with his wife in Salt Lake City. They attend the Ridgedale Ward, where he currently teaches the Gospel Doctrine course as well as teaching the High Priests once a month.

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