A History of the Church in 100 Objects

Mike Aquilina (The Witness of Early Christian Women) and his freelance journalist daughter, Grace, put a new twist on Christian history by showcasing 100 significant artifacts from the 2,000-year history of Christianity. Objects (a term the authors use liberally) include the Cave of the Nativity, catacomb niches, stained glass, the Holy Grail, loaves and fish, and the Wittenberg Door, among others. Descriptions of the items are crisp, and even the most devout Christians will learn about their faith in new ways by considering common objects, such as the sacrament, within their complete historical contexts. Occasionally the choice of object seems odd (the birth control pill, the guillotine) and the section about Catholics on television serves as a commercial for EWTN, the Catholic station where Mike is a host. But these are small distractions in an otherwise robust work. This creative historical overview proves that Christian stories can continue to be fresh and insightful. [em](Nov.) [/em]