Church History for Chumps
We're not your grandfather's church history podcast. But we'd also really appreciate it if he still listened.
Saints, heretics, councils...and the occasional crazy stuff. We have fun.
IG: @churchhistory4chumps
Episodes
156 episodes
155. The Earliest Reformers in Europe: The Story of the Waldensians
The 12th century was kind of a strange time. While knights and tough guys all across Europe were fighting crusades, everyday people seemed to be starting their own movements. Most of them were heretical. In the fog of he...
154. The Crusade Against Christians: The Sack of Constantinople
Ever since the Venetians got involved, we knew the crusaders were in trouble.(Apologies to any listeners from Venice) Led by the grizzled military veteran Doge Dandalo, the crusaders were forcibly detoured by the exploits of ...
153. How the Fourth Crusade Went Broke Before It Started
Pope Innocent III wasn't out to have history repeat itself. He was determined for his crusade to be a spiritual endeavor backed by pious Christians as they retook the Holy Land from the Ayyubids. Unfortunately, the Fourth Crusade ra...
152. Pope Innocent III & The Dawn of the Fourth Crusade
The Third Crusade was over. Saladin and Richard the Lionheart had perished. The Crusader States sat with a reinforced coastline but without its prize jewel: the city of Jerusalem itself.The year is 1198. A new figurehead ascends to leade...
151. Where Did Oneness Pentecostalism Come From?
American Christianity has a knack for being...interesting. The 19th Century spawned a number of new denominations, each with their own different takes on the classical traditions that their fathers and grandfathers immigrated to Ame...
150. The History of Christian Missions: Two Thousand Years in Sixty Minutes!
There are few passages of Scripture more influential than the Great Commission. The words of Jesus to His followers, calling them to go out into the world and make disciples, have rung out for two thousand years.And the Church's answer t...
149. Saint Irenaeus: Gnostics Hate to See Him Coming
Irenaeus of Lyon was easily one of the most influential early church theologians of this time. At the very least he definitely had the most vowels in his name.Just a quick glimpse at his rap sheet: he was (sorta) discipled by Polycarp. H...
148. What Did the Early Church Believe about the Military?
Was the early church truly pacifist?Oof, that's a tough question to answer.And to be honest, we're not quite sure there is a neat and simple answer for that question. But if you want to hear enough church father quotes...
147. When Did Churches Begin Singing Hymns? The Legacy of Benjamin Keach
The late 17th century was a wild time for Christianity in England. While the Catholics and Anglicans fought to be the top dog of the land of beans and toast, Baptists quietly went about changing stuff with no one's permission. ...
146. The Dying Breath of the Third Crusade
The siege of Acre was a grueling yet spectacular success for the Crusader armies. With the coastline cleared and easy access to supplies secured, the greatest task was before them: to siege the city of Jerusalem and retake the True Cross.
145. The Third Crusade: The Final Days of Acre
The Siege of Acre has been a punishing ordeal for both Muslim and Christian armies. Each time the Crusaders believe they're inching towards victory, Saladin pulls yet another trick out of his seemingly endless hat. But today we will...
144. CHUMP TALK: Why Bother Studying Church History?
Finally, the question that everyone (usually our wives and loved ones) constantly asks us."Why bother studying church history?" "Isn't it all so boring?""Isn't it just a bunch of dead guys?"So after putting on a...
143. The Third Crusade: The Tragic Fall of Frederick Barbarossa
Frederick I was no ordinary crusader. As a young man, he'd participated in the disastrous Second Crusade. Now in his sixties, Frederick was adamant to not follow in the footsteps of those who attempted to liberate the Holy Land befo...
142. The Third Crusade: The Siege of Acre...The Christians Strike Back!
The disgraced King of Jerusalem, Guy of Lusignan, had lost everything. His kingdom, his freedom, his integrity. When Saladin, Sultan of the Islamic world, agreed to free him from captivity, he was forced to swear no reta...
141. The Third Crusade: The Call of the Cross
The fall of Jerusalem in 1187 sent shockwaves all throughout the Christian world. The holy city had been a prize proudly held by the Crusaders since 1099, and now it was held firmly in the grasp of their enemies. However...
140. The Third Crusade: The Holy City is Lost
In the 12th Century, Saladin is steadily gathering the infinity stones of Islamic territories. Mosul, Aleppo, Damascus. The threat of a united Islamic front appears plausible, and this is a terrifying reality for the Crusader States...
139. CHUMP TALK: Is Church Membership Biblical?
It's pretty fascinating to look at the idea of 'church membership' through a historical lens. It's fair to assume that the early church probably wasn't having people fill out visitor cards or handing out coffee mugs with the church ...
138. The Third Crusade: The Rise of Saladin and the Leper King
The Second Crusade was, for all intents and purposes, filler content. Not much land traded hands, the Franks kind of embarrassed themselves, not many crazy battles. Boring, am I right?The Third Crusade though? That's where things get pop...
137. California Dreamin: The Missions Movement to the 1848 Gold Rush
This one goes out to all our pals in California. And anyone who really likes gold.The early half of the 19th century was a massive time of western expansion in the United States. One of the most fascinating movements among this era was t...
136. The History of Christian Pilgrimage
Who wants to go on a trip?!Our journey through the Crusades have brought up an interesting topic: what's the deal with Christians traveling far and wide to visit so-called holy sites? Well join us today as we dig deeper into ...
135. Saint Jerome and the Legacy of the Latin Vulgate
Let's take it back old school for a minute. In the 4th century, the church was moving a little differently. In the east, Greek was still the common language, and they were loving the easy access to the earliest biblical texts. ...
134. CHUMP TALK: Why Do Christians Love Conspiracy Theories?
Did you know that jet fuel can melt steel beams?Or wait, it can't. I'm not sure anymore. People love conspiracy theories though. There's something very punk rock and anti-establishment about deciding that we don't...
133. The Wild World of Christian Relics: From the Holy Grail to the Crown of Thorns
Who doesn't love a little Indiana Jones reference, right?It seems like the Western Christian world has been fascinated for ages with the mystical (and possibly magical) qualities of such objects like the Shroud of Turin or the Holy Lance...
132. The Crushing Collapse of the Second Crusade
"So great was the disaster of the army and so inexpressible the misery that those who took part bemoan it with tears to this very day."The Second Crusade failed to capture lightning in a bottle a second time. What was proposed as a rousi...
131. The Templar Knights and the Doomed Road to Outremer
The Second Crusade has begun. Louis VII and Conrad III, respective Kings of France and Germany, have gathered their troops and are prepared to walk in the footsteps of their crusading forefathers. Their troops eagerly anticipated sh...