CHRISTIANITY AND ITS EXPANSION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHRISTIANITY AND ITS EXPANSION

“A History of the Expansion of Christianity,” Vol. I, by Kenneth Scott Latourette (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode).

There probably has been more literature published about Christianity than about tany other subject, yet never before has any historian endeavoured to Cover in one work the whole vast story, from the life and death of Jesus to the'present day. The whole work is to comprise six volumes, the first of which is now under review. Professor Latourette begins by summarizing the environment into which Christianity was born; the following chapters deal with the earliest Christianity, the extension of the Church before the time of Constantine, its battle with paganism, and the popular philosophies of the day, and the reasons for its success. Constantine, having made Christianity the State religion, the effects which this recognition had ou the Christians of the day are summarized by Professor Latourette.

On the whole, one is relieved to find that their new-found power did not go to their heads. Their alms increased to the extent that their wealth was increased, and their dealings with the pagans, while stringent, were not to be compared with the pagan treatment of the Christians iu earlier years. Deaths were incidental rather than part of the policy.

Other chapters deal with the effect of Christianity upon its environment, tracing to their origin many customs of today—and also with the effect of the environment upon Christianity, summarizing the influences of other religions and philosohpies.

The Dean of St. Paul’s who contributes an introduction to the first two volumes, says:—"Any reader who can understancl the amount of labour invloved in such an enterprise will be astonished at the width o f the author’s reading and the fairness of bis presentation.” It is rather fitting that a book on the missionary work of the church should have been written by a man who was himself a missionary.