What is Jesus Wars about?
For the last two thousand years, Christians have struggled to resolve a paradox that is central to their faith: that Jesus was fully human, and yet also fully divine. During the Church Councils of the fifth century, it seemed very likely that the Church might formally abandon its belief in the humanity of Jesus and describe him solely as a divine being. More than simply being a question of philosophy, the debate over Christ’s divinity spilled out of the churches and into the battlefield.
In Jesus Wars, religious historian John Philip Jenkins tells the fascinating story of this conflict. Readers will encounter incredible characters, treacherous conspiracies, court factions and rebellions, culminating in a full-scale civil war over the nature of Jesus Christ that tore the Roman Empire apart for decades.
Philip Jenkins obtained his Doctorate in History from Cambridge University. Since 1980, he has taught at Penn State University, and currently holds the rank of Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of the Humanities in History and Religious Studies. His book The Next Christendom was named one of the top religion books of 2002 by USA Today. His articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the Boston Globe. Jenkins’s radio appearances include NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air” with Terri Gross.
“Jenkins ... has done a remarkable job of documenting this little-understood slice of history. There’s lots of excitement and plenty of intrigue, and Jenkins does a fine job in his recitation of this strange story.”
– Publishers Weekly