A People's History of Christianity

“It would be difficult to imagine anyone reading this book without finding some new insight or inspiration, some new and unexpected testimony to the astonishing breadth of Christianity through the centuries.” — Philip Jenkins, author of The Lost History of Christianity

“Interesting, insightful, illuminating, and remarkably relevant.” — Marcus Borg, author of The Heart of Christianity

In the tradition of Howard Zinn comes a new kind of church history that reveals the bottom-up movements that preserved Jesus’s original message of social justice over 2,000 years. This essential guide to progressive Christianity explores how this powerful, often-hidden, history is impacting the church today.

What if the real story of Christianity isn’t about popes and inquisitions, but about the humble, vital faith of ordinary people who changed the world from the bottom up?

• A People’s History: Go beyond the traditional narrative of power and politics to discover the vibrant, grassroots movements that truly kept the faith alive through the centuries.
• Spiritual Practices Through the Ages: Learn how early Christians, medieval mystics, and modern reformers practiced their devotion, offering a usable history to enrich your own spiritual life today.
• Social Justice as Core Faith: Follow the story of those who challenged the church when it was too rich or cozy with empire, preserving Jesus’s original message of radical love for the poor and outcast.
• Generative Christianity: Uncover a powerful alternative to militant, triumphal religion—a humble, life-giving faith that transforms the world through service, not conquest.