The Homebrewed Christianity Guide to Church History: Flaming Heretics and Heavy Drinkers

Amid the ferment of dissent and the protests of heretics, the church developed most significantly. This guide introduces that history by looking at those periods.

A variety of questions have preoccupied Christian communities throughout history. Christians have attempted to determine who Jesus is and whether his life and teaching have global significance. They've battled over the nature of salvation and the sources of authority for Christian belief and practice. They've argued about the nature and purpose of the Christian church and how is it to be organized. They've drawn swords over the relationship between church and state. And they've taken votes on who should be sainted and who should be expelled.

Focusing on sources of unity and division within the church throughout its history, and some of the most and least savory characters in the history, this guide provides an overview of Christian responses to those and other formative questions, all with the trademark Homebrewed Christianity wit and wisdom.

Bill Leonard is the James and Marilyn Dunn Professor of Baptist Studies and professor of church history. An ordained Baptist minister, Leonard specializes in the study of American religion and the Appalachian region. He is the author of several books, including A Sense of the Heart: Christian Religious Experience in the United States .

Tripp Fuller is the director of theology and humanities at The Hatchery in Los Angeles, California, and the founder and cohost of Homebrewed Christianity, the top theology podcast in the world. He's also the coauthor of Transforming Christian Theology (Fortress Press, 2009), a sought-after conference speaker, competitive home brewer, minister, and PhD candidate at Claremont Graduate University.