The Fall of Christendom and the Rise of the Church

By Peter Pikkert

One reader writes: "This is an excellent book, probably the first of its kind that presents an overview of all the major philosophical developments that have shaped the Western world over the past 2000 years. It examines the relationship of church versus the state, and while portraying a downwards trend in the Biblical conversion of society in general it also draws a picture of great hope as the Body of Christ, the church, has withstood, answered, and overcome all of these opposing philosophies."

The Fall of Christendom and the Rise of the Church examines the forces which challenged, and virtually eliminated Christianity from the realms of culture, science and politics in most of the Western world. It then juxtaposes these developments against the unprecedented growth of the church during the later half of the 20th century and early part of the 21st century, and proposes that the socio-political and cultural reduction of Christianity to what it was at its inception maybe a blessing in disguise. This book seeks to explain why the evangelical church is growing, and how it can be 'salt and light' in a post-Christian pluralistic world. Each chapter concludes with a series of though-provoking questions.