RE 207: Analyzing Strengths, Weaknesses of Catholic Church History

This essay reviews Norman Tanner's 'New Short History of the Catholic Church,' focusing on its strengths and weaknesses as an introductory text on Roman Catholicism within the context of an RE 207 course. The essay begins with a summary of the book, highlighting its concise overview of two thousand years of Catholic Church history, and its organization. It acknowledges the book's value in providing a broad historical perspective, including the institutional aspects of the church, and its attention to bishops, canon law, and other key elements. However, the essay critically analyzes the book's limitations, particularly its downplaying of sectarian strife, brutality, and controversies such as the church's involvement in colonialism, the Rwandan genocide, and child abuse scandals. The essay concludes that while the book provides valuable insights, its omissions and lack of critical engagement with certain historical events diminish its overall effectiveness as an impartial and comprehensive introductory text from a religious studies perspective.

Running head: NEW SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
NEW SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Name of the student:
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Author note:

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There are several issues across the world that people need to face every day. They change
along with time however there remains a common theme and that is difference. It is not cynical
that people become uncomfortable around things and concepts that are far from the norms
usually followed (Mutebi). Many people among are settled in the daily norms and routines in
such a way absorbing norms and values that it becomes hard to process any new ideas that go
against the normality. These values become important part of people’s identity and that is the
reason they are provocative to people. Religion has been one of the people’s identity since a long
time. The essay aims to discuss religion considering the introductory book on Roman
Catholicism commenting on the strengths and weakness of the book based on religion. The
essay gives and summary as well as an analysis of the content.
New Short History of the Catholic Church written by Norman Tanner who is a catholic
historian and priest of the Jesuit Order. Tanner has provided a learned and impressive survey that
combines history of two thousand years within 239 pages. New Short History of the Catholic
Church is a brief and concise history regarding the Christian people. The main focus is the
catholic church of the Christian people. After AD 2000 it is someway necessary to and
fascinating to read about the Christian era that was present in the first two millennia. However,
not everyone find the book as per their perspectives. The split with Constantinople occurred in
1054 and the beginning of the reformation in 1517 was the most disastrous and dramatic event
that was handled with the same measured calm as important milestones or less traumatic.
The impressive survey that combines history of two thousand years within 239 pages and
there have been massive researches in the last half centuries in to the history of church. Several
multi-volume works and learned articles were published the same making it accessible to the
population. In the books, involvement of the references to these recent scholarly initiatives

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appeared many a times. The references used in the book added richness to the content, giving it
the scope of a concise history book. A balance between the institutional and the more directly
dimensions of the church organized in each section. The elements included in the book are
bishops, canon law, martyrs, missionaries, parishes, pilgrims, priesthood, popes, prayer, and
religious orders, schools, universities, theologians, sacraments and the vita consacrata. The book
discusses about the events when the various boundaries of the church mainly coincided with
those of the Roman Empire. The book includes the breakup of the Roman Empire in the west
through the barbarian invasions and explores the expansions of catholicsim into a worldwide
religion.
The author have given impressive insights into the aspects mentioned above. Very little is
present in order to convey the misery of centuries of sectarian strife following the reformation.
Even though it could not be seen as more topical. It can be debated that through recognizing the
devastation caused by these countries are the only reasons for the centuries of carnage there is a
way. There is a way through which it can be appreciated that the European Union’s unique
achievement such as several years of peace as well as prosperity. Global peace index of this year
holds the position of the most peaceful region across the globe. It is considered as one of the fact
that should inform debate of today regarding membership of the Europe union (Tanner).
The author careful as well as admirably explains in his early parts of the survey
conducted by him. The explanation was regarding the tight rope trod by the church, balancing
the demands of rulers and emperors along with the need for the church’s co-existence with
power that are temporal. The persisting question is the extension to which church remains true to
Christ’s teachings while it maintains the alignment of itself with the powerful ruling elites.
However, the author stopped soon and he draws back from illuminating the very recent

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compromises made by pontiffs. Certainly, this part has always been the great dilemmas of
Christianity. Nevertheless, about the church’s constant sanctions of brutality have not been
mentioned even once and there is almost nothing about it. The brutality of the Spanish
conquistadores any visitor to Mexico is without comfort specifically aware of the murals very
clearly. It depicted the mass murder, killing of numerous indigenous people by soldiers along
with priests standing at their side.
Tanner have also reduced to very little the way through which Italy’s genocide in
Abyssinia was backed up the church. Also, its embrace of Franco in Spain when observed
carefully, it was with the exception of priest and nuns in the Basque Country. The persisting
controversy about Pius XII’s role during the period of world war two was not considered by the
author. Also, the author did not consider the remarkable courage of individual European priest
and nuns who were killed for they had defied fascism.
The book did not even mention the effects and impacts of liberation in Latin America.
The author did not consider Rwanda where the church was complicit in the 1994 genocide. Many
remarkable priests and nuns who have sacrificed their lives in order to protect the Tutsi minority
however, the church hierarchy stood firmly against it. With prevailing power. They even
encouraged Tutsi to seek shelter in their churches and later the Hutu militia is altered who
arrived in order to massacre them. It was among their hundreds of thousands.
The author also offers regrets about colonialism, although that was well, catholic
missionaries that are instrumental in educating generations of Africa’s future leaders should have
been mentioned inclusive of stamping out child sacrifice and tackling polygamy. The author
have failed to point out the Catholic Church which is responsible for providing more than a

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quarter of every medical care in Africa. It is certainly an astonishing achievement as well as a
poignant illustration of placing Christ’s words into action ill.
Also, there is only a references that are way more difficult to the child abuse scandals rocking the
church. It deplete its wealth and employing its words in parts that belong to the global north. In
the book, New Short History of the Catholic Church recognition given to the Vatican’s Mafia
connections can cause disquiet as well as disputes. The complacency of the entire book do ot
serve the subject matter in a way that is very understandable. It distracts from the subjects that
are rather fascinating and educational. The author have given impressive insights into the aspects
mentioned above in the essay and therefore it is considered one of the book f historic relevance.

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Reference:
Mutebi, Vincent. Church-State Relations in Uganda with Special Reference to Administration of
Church-Founded Schools and Hospitals. Diss. 2015.
Tanner, Norman. New short history of the Catholic Church. A&C Black, 2011.