Over the past few months we dealt with matters relating to Church history, noting some things that were done right by the early Christians and some things that went wrong in certain periods of our history.

In last month’s column we discussed the struggle between Christianity and two ideologies: communism and capitalism. This month, concluding the series on issues relating to Church history, we examine the state of Christianity in our time, referring in particular to Europe, America and Africa.

In December we looked at the impact of the scientific revolution on the Church. This month we reflect on a struggle between Christianity and two powerful ideologies: capitalism and communism.

Last month we made a brief detour to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Now we continue to trace some landmarks in the story of Christianity.

When we are on a long journey we sometimes take a detour in order to see an important person whose home is located away from the direct route to our destination. When we do this, we might find that the detour gives us the opportunity to encounter someone who is going to tell us all [...]

The Catholic Church of our time has been very fortunate in having popes who were exemplary leaders. Pope John XXIII used Vatican II to modernise the Church; Pope John Paul II demystified the papacy by travelling all over the world and was bold enough to apologise to Martin Luther posthumously; Pope Benedict XVI is reaching [...]

For us to understand the kind of Church we are today, we must have an understanding of our past. For us to build the foundations of a strong and vibrant Church for future generations, we must have a good understanding of both our past and our present. It is for this reason that in the [...]

Last month I gave a portrait of the early Church. Before we leave that period of Church history, we need to give an indication of the role the African continent played in the development of Christianity.

There is a lovely story in a devotional booklet called Our Daily Bread about a convert to Christianity who was so perplexed by what she saw in Christians that she told a friend she wanted to read a book on Church history.