A History Of Christianity (2009)
S01E02 The Unpredictable Rise Of Rome
Episode Overview
Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch reflects on his grandfather, a staunch Anglican who believed that any flirtation with Catholicism could taint the English way of life. With his grandfather gone, MacCulloch embarks on a fascinating journey to uncover the remarkable and unpredictable ascent of the Roman Catholic Church. Today, over a billion Christians look to Rome, representing more than half of the global Christian population. But how did a humble Jewish sect from 1st century Palestine, which advocated for humility and poverty, evolve into the dominant religion of Western Europe, wielding immense wealth and power while demanding unwavering loyalty from its followers? Among his surprising discoveries, MacCulloch reveals that confession was conceived by monks on a secluded Irish island and that the Crusades sparked the establishment of Britain’s university system. Ultimately, it’s a tale of the power of influential connections.
