The Puzzle of Christianity, Peter Vardy
The Puzzle of Christianity, Peter Vardy
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The Puzzle of Christianity

Author: Peter Vardy

Narrator: Dugald Bruce-Lockhart

Unabridged: 8 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/08/2016


Synopsis

An excellent overview of Christianity, suitable for students (and teachers!) embarking on the new GCSE and ‘A’-Level Religious Studies specifications. Written in the same clear and engaging style as the bestselling Puzzle of Ethics and Puzzle of God, this book covers key content common to all the new specifications – including: Most importantly, Vardy places these themes in context and helps students to understand and appreciate Christianity, the largest religious tradition in the UK and worldwide. Through this latest book in Vardy’s bestselling series, students will enjoy their studies and see the relevance of taking the subject further. Jesus: His incarnation, life, ethical teaching, crucifixion and resurrection, saving importance for Christians and relationship with God; The development of Christianity through from the Early Church to contemporary Global Christianity; The similarities and differences between different types of Christianity in terms of beliefs, teachings and practices; The use and authority of the Bible and other sources of authority within the Churches as well as how the Bible shapes Christian Ethics; Christian responses to science, feminism, secularism, philosophy and the new atheism as well as crises in social justice.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Ruby on August 14, 2023

Whilst this book didn't teach me a lot that I hadn't covered in lessons, it did what the best non-fiction does: giving a narrative. It guided neatly through history and key themes to give a complete and nuanced picture of Christianity. It reviewed the main areas of the spec. well, but didn't lose th......more

Goodreads review by Jonathan on August 09, 2022

I may not agree with everything completely, but only on a small number of points and it is definitely balanced and as far as I'm concerned remains one of a very small number of decent specialised books worthy of A Level readership. I have to commend it for this alone.......more

Goodreads review by Glenn on November 03, 2016

Apart from the title -- which more to do with the author's brand than what's actually inside the book -- this is a clear, illuminating, irenic introduction to the Christian faith. It steers admirably away from a sectarian party line and respects critical scholarship while also realizing that critica......more

Goodreads review by Yohanes on November 24, 2024

It was a good read. Very, very good introduction to why Christianity is divided in everything: Jesus, the Bible, the Church, Ethics, etc. But it was very Catholic in describing the Great Schism of the western church and the eastern church. One thing I have problem with, too, is Vardy concluded that......more


Quotes

‘This book is a “must read” for all students of Religious Studies. If we are honest, in a postmodern world, most teachers have only a shallow understanding of Christianity. Fortunately, Peter Vardy comes to the rescue with this masterpiece. It is clear and absorbing.’- Peter Mothersole, Head of R.E., Truro High School for Girls ‘An essential requirement for all those engaged with the new GCSE and A level Religious Studies. I defy any student or teacher not to be gripped by this book!’- Jacinta Bowe, Head of R.E., St Mary’s Shaftesbury ‘A clear, intelligent, accessible, informed and balanced account of the puzzle of Christianity.’- Fr Frank Brennan SJ, Professor of Law, ACU ‘A mini-encyclopedia of the Christian faith, which will be of enormous help not only to those studying in schools, but also to adult readers.’- Archbishop Peter Carnley, former Anglican Primate of Australia