Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums - Wikipedia
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## Contents

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- (Top)

- [1Summary](#Summary)
- [2List of volumes with abstracts](#List_of_volumes_with_abstracts)Toggle List of volumes with abstracts subsection  - [2.1Vol. 1: Die Frühzeit (The Early Period)](#Vol._1:_Die_Frühzeit_(The_Early_Period))
  - [2.2Vol. 2: Die Spätantike (Late Antiquity)](#Vol._2:_Die_Spätantike_(Late_Antiquity))
  - [2.3Vol. 3: Die Alte Kirche (The Ancient Church)](#Vol._3:_Die_Alte_Kirche_(The_Ancient_Church))
  - [2.4Vol. 4: Frühmittelalter (Early Middle Ages)](#Vol._4:_Frühmittelalter_(Early_Middle_Ages))
  - [2.5Vol. 5: 9. und 10. Jahrhundert (9th and 10th Centuries)](#Vol._5:_9._und_10._Jahrhundert_(9th_and_10th_Centuries))
  - [2.6Vol. 6: Das 11. und 12. Jahrhundert (11th and 12th Centuries)](#Vol._6:_Das_11._und_12._Jahrhundert_(11th_and_12th_Centuries))
  - [2.7Vol. 7: Das 13. und 14. Jahrhundert (13th and 14th Centuries)](#Vol._7:_Das_13._und_14._Jahrhundert_(13th_and_14th_Centuries))
  - [2.8Vol. 8: Das 15. und 16. Jahrhundert (The 15th and 16th century)](#Vol._8:_Das_15._und_16._Jahrhundert_(The_15th_and_16th_century))
  - [2.9Vol. 9: Mitte des 16. bis Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts (Middle of 16th century till beginning of 18th century)](#Vol._9:_Mitte_des_16._bis_Anfang_des_18._Jahrhunderts_(Middle_of_16th_century_till_beginning_of_18th_century))
  - [2.10Vol. 10: 18. Jahrhundert und Ausblick auf die Folgezeit (18th century and outlook onto the aftermath)](#Vol._10:_18._Jahrhundert_und_Ausblick_auf_die_Folgezeit_(18th_century_and_outlook_onto_the_aftermath))
- [3Reception](#Reception)
- [4References](#References)
- [5External links](#External_links)

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# _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums_

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Series of writings by Karlheinz Deschner

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_**Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums**_ (In English _Criminal History of Christianity_) is the main work of the author and [church critic](/wiki/Criticism_of_religion "Criticism of religion") [Karlheinz Deschner](/wiki/Karlheinz_Deschner "Karlheinz Deschner"). It describes the misconduct attributed to various [Christian](/wiki/Christianity "Christianity") [churches](/wiki/Christian_Church "Christian Church"), [denominations](/wiki/Religious_denomination "Religious denomination"), [sects](/wiki/Sect "Sect"), and leagues, as well as its representatives and Christian sovereigns during Christian history. The work covers the entire [history of Christianity](/wiki/History_of_Christianity "History of Christianity") from its [biblical](/wiki/Bible "Bible") beginnings until the present. It was published in ten volumes beginning in 1986, with the final volume appearing in March 2013.[\[1\]](#cite_note-1)

Partial or complete translations of this work have been published in Italian,[\[2\]](#cite_note-2) Spanish, Greek, Polish, Russian and English.[\[3\]](#cite_note-3)

## Summary

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Summary")\]

In the introduction to the complete works, which is the beginning of the first volume, Deschner explains his intention by starting with what is not to be found in his work: an answer to the question "What is Christianity good for?". According to the sentence _Audiatur et altera pars_ ("one should listen to the other side, too") he wants to counterbalance the gigantic ascendence of the existing glorification of Christianity. Also, he does not want to write about the alleged or - exceptionally - really positive effects of Christianity. Instead, he wants to demonstrate that the advocates of a primary moral instance not only partially but permanently failed their own ideals.

Deschner anticipates the main criticism at his work, namely the one-sidedness of selection of facts, and responds with a clear counter. His aim was not a history of churches, but an illustration of all (including non-church) phenomena of Christianity. These would be measured up to not only generic terms, like crime or humanity, but also to the central ethical ideas of the synoptics, as well as to the Christian self-conception as the religion of glad tidings, love, peace, etc., and also the ignored demands of the later church, like prohibition of military service (first for all Christians, then for the clergy, only), ban on simony, interest-taking, usury and many more.

## List of volumes with abstracts

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: List of volumes with abstracts")\]

In the following, all volumes are listed with an abstract for each of them. The English titles were taken from the author's English web-site[\[4\]](#cite_note-4) where available. Where not available, they are marked as _(translation)_.

### Vol. 1: Die Frühzeit (The Early Period)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Vol. 1: Die Frühzeit (The Early Period)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (1986). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.1, Die Frühzeit. Von den Ursprüngen im Alten Testament bis zum Tod des heiligen Augustinus (430)_. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01263-0](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01263-0 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01263-0").
- English title: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 1. The Early Period. From Old Testament origins to the death of Saint Augustine (430)._

This first volume was published after 16 years of preparatory work. It illustrates the genesis of Christianity and its ascension to the Roman [state religion](/wiki/State_religion "State religion").

It starts with a look into the [Old Testament](/wiki/Old_Testament "Old Testament"). Deschner describes the land seizure of the Israelites after the crumbling Egyptian power in Palestine in the 14th and 13th century B.C.E. and the destruction of the [Canaan](/wiki/Canaan "Canaan") city-state system. This beginning, which does not directly concern Christianity, but ancient Judaism, demonstrates the relation between religious rhetoric and violent political reality: This is where Deschner sees the origin of a tradition of holy wars, following which Christians later commit numerous mass murders in the name of Israel's God, too. He describes the many death penalties the Torah stipulates for religious offences, King David's policy of conquest, the ruling and corruption of the priests, and finally the decline of the state of Israel in Roman times.

Only this decline made the ascension of Christianity in the Roman empire possible, because Christians could see themselves as the true _Israel of God_. Christian [Anti-Judaism](/wiki/Anti-Judaism "Anti-Judaism") begins with the [New Testament](/wiki/New_Testament "New Testament") (see [Antisemitism and the New Testament](/wiki/Antisemitism_and_the_New_Testament "Antisemitism and the New Testament")) and continues with the Church being interpreted as new Israel. Based on selected quotations, Deschner demonstrates the antisemitism of the [Doctors of the Church](/wiki/Doctor_of_the_Church "Doctor of the Church") [Ephrem](/wiki/Ephrem_the_Syrian "Ephrem the Syrian"), [John Chrysostom](/wiki/John_Chrysostom "John Chrysostom"), [Jerome](/wiki/Jerome "Jerome") and [Hilary of Poitiers](/wiki/Hilary_of_Poitiers "Hilary of Poitiers").

Likewise, the [Church Fathers](/wiki/Church_Fathers "Church Fathers") \- according to Deschner - agitated against _heretics_ and _misbelievers_. Deschner defends only [Origen](/wiki/Origen "Origen"), whom he numbers among _the most noble Christians at all_. One whole chapter is dedicated to the _attacks against paganism_. He then analyses the persecution of Christians in the mirror of partially exaggerating martyr legends from Christian historiography as well as the retrospective Christian view of pagan emperors. Furthermore, Deschner looks at the _first significant adversaries of Christianity_, Celsus and Porphyrios.

According to Deschner, emperor [Constantine I](/wiki/Constantine_the_Great "Constantine the Great") turned _"the church of pacifists into a church of battlefield-shavelings"_. In Deschner's eyes, giving up the central pacifist values of pre-Constantine Christianity means _"a bankruptcy of Jesus' teachings"_. Furthermore, Deschner describes Constantine's actions in the _battle against Jews, "heretics" and Pagans_. He also does not spare the kingdom of Armenia, the first state in the world to make Christianity a state religion (in 301), by asserting that _"this immediately began with massive persecution of Pagans"_.

About emperor [Julian](/wiki/Julian_the_Apostate "Julian the Apostate") Deschner writes that he _"towers over his Christian antecessors in all aspects: in character, ethical and intellectual."_. Julian's attempt to re-legitimate Pagan religions is commented as follows:

> _Vielleicht, wer weiß, wäre eine nichtchristliche Welt in genauso viele Kriege gestürzt – obwohl die nichtchristliche Welt seit siebzehn Jahrhunderten weniger Kriege führt als die christliche! Schwer vorstellbar aber in einer heidnischen Welt: die ganze Heuchelei der christlichen. Und noch schwerer denkbar deren religiöse Intoleranz._
>
> — Kriminalgeschichte Bd. 1, S. 317 und passim

English translation: _Maybe, who knows, a non-Christian world would have tumbled into as many wars – though, during the last 17 centuries, the non-Christian world fought fewer wars than the Christian! But it is very hard to imagine in a Pagan world: all the hypocrisy of the Christians. And even less thinkable is their religious intolerance._

The volume closes with an evaluation of the [Church Fathers](/wiki/Church_Fathers "Church Fathers") [Athanasius](/wiki/Athanasius_of_Alexandria "Athanasius of Alexandria"), [Ambrose](/wiki/Ambrose "Ambrose") and [Augustine](/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo "Augustine of Hippo"). Deschner accuses Athanasius of _"unscrupulousness"_ as well as _"striving for prestige and power"_. Ambrose is in Deschner's words a _"fanatic antisemite"_. Thanks to his church policies, _"adamant and intolerant, but not so direct; versed, smoother"_, he set an _"example for the Church until today"_ (page 400 and passim). And finally, Augustine, who positioned _"patriotism above the love of a father for his son"_ (page 520) and sanctioned _"just war"_ as well as _"holy war"_.

### Vol. 2: Die Spätantike (Late Antiquity)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Vol. 2: Die Spätantike (Late Antiquity)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (1989). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.2, Die Spätantike_. Rowohlt, Reinbek. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01277-0](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01277-0 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01277-0").
- English title: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 2. Late Antiquity. From the Catholic "children emperors" to the extermination of the Arian Vandals and Ostrogoths under Justinian I (527-565)._

Deschner writes, the _"conditions as in ancient Rome"_ (German _"Zustände wie im alten Rom"_ is a proverb meaning decadent, chaotic, irresponsible, violent etc. - a civilisation in decline) were characteristic for the conditions of the Roman Church. The atrocities committed by Christian leaders in late antiquity are mostly euphemised and concealed by Church-historians until today.

### Vol. 3: Die Alte Kirche (The Ancient Church)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Vol. 3: Die Alte Kirche (The Ancient Church)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (1990). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.3, Die Alte Kirche_. Rowohlt, Reinbek. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01285-1](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01285-1 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01285-1").
- English title: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 3. The Ancient Church. Forgery, Brainwashing, Exploitation, Annihilation._

Unlike the other volumes, which used a chronological approach, Deschner organised this volume according to so-called crime key aspects, which he identifies in the following areas:

- The Christian forgery
- The miracle and relic cheating
- The pilgrimage economy
- The brainwashing, [dumbing down](/wiki/Dumbing_down "Dumbing down") and ruin of the ancient education
- The Christian book burning and the annihilation of Paganism
- The preservation, stabilisation and expansion of slavery
- The double-tongued social doctrine and the actual social policy of the main Church

### Vol. 4: Frühmittelalter (Early Middle Ages)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Vol. 4: Frühmittelalter (Early Middle Ages)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (1994). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.4, Frühmittelalter_. Rowohlt, Reinbek. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01300-9](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01300-9 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01300-9").
- English title: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 4. Early Middle Ages. From King Clovis (ca. 500) to the death of Charles "the Great" (814)._

In the early Middle Ages, the split-off from Byzantium happened, the war against the Islam began and the [popes](/wiki/Pope "Pope") in Rome became powerful rulers. Deschner considers pope Gregor I as a man of double morale, who consistently called to repentance and preached the close apocalypse, but himself pursued the extension of his power at any cost, recommending dungeon, torture, hostage-taking and pillaging, and also knew using bribery well. Deschner calls the [Donation of Constantine](/wiki/Donation_of_Constantine "Donation of Constantine") _"the biggest forgery of documents in world history"_. In the end of the volume, [Charlemagne](/wiki/Charlemagne "Charlemagne") is accused of opportunistic relations to the popes, as well as blamed for his excessively bloody " [sword mission](/wiki/Forced_conversion#Medieval_western_Europe "Forced conversion")" with the [Saxons](/wiki/Saxons "Saxons") and his annihilation of the kingdoms of the [Lombards](/wiki/Lombards "Lombards") and of the [Avars](/wiki/Pannonian_Avars "Pannonian Avars").

### Vol. 5: 9. und 10. Jahrhundert (9th and 10th Centuries)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Vol. 5: 9. und 10. Jahrhundert (9th and 10th Centuries)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (1997). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.5, 9. und 10. Jahrhundert_. Rowohlt, Reinbek. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01304-1](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01304-1 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01304-1").
- English title: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 5. 9th and 10th Centuries. From Louis the Pious (814) to the death of Otto III (1002)._

Before the volume's actual beginning, a reply to the [anthology](/wiki/Anthology "Anthology") _Criminalisation of Christianity?_ and an [editorial](/wiki/Editorial "Editorial") written by Hermann Gieselbusch ( [lector](/wiki/Literary_editor "Literary editor") with [Rowohlt](/wiki/Rowohlt_Verlag "Rowohlt Verlag") publishing house) has been put.

In the then following description of the 9th and 10th century, Deschner illustrates the deep entanglement of secular and church power. Clerical principalities came into existence and the military service of the high clergy prospered. Under the [Ottonian dynasty](/wiki/Ottonian_dynasty "Ottonian dynasty"), the Church in the [Holy Roman Empire](/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire "Holy Roman Empire") was completely militarised; dioceses and abbeys controlled a major military potential. Even popes entered wars: [Leo IV](/wiki/Pope_Leo_IV "Pope Leo IV") in the naval [Battle of Ostia](/wiki/Battle_of_Ostia "Battle of Ostia") (849) and [John X](/wiki/Pope_John_X "Pope John X") in the [Battle of Garigliano](/wiki/Battle_of_Garigliano "Battle of Garigliano") (915). Popes [excommunicated](/wiki/Excommunicate "Excommunicate") each other, some were thrown in prison, strangled, mutilated, poisoned. [Sergius III](/wiki/Pope_Sergius_III "Pope Sergius III") had even two other popes murdered. Chapter 3 discusses the [Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals](/wiki/Pseudo-Isidorian_Decretals "Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals"), which are the most important forgery in Carolingian times (Dawson).

### Vol. 6: Das 11. und 12. Jahrhundert (11th and 12th Centuries)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Vol. 6: Das 11. und 12. Jahrhundert (11th and 12th Centuries)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (1999). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.6, Das 11. und 12. Jahrhundert_. Rowohlt, Reinbek. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01309-2](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01309-2 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01309-2").
- English title: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 6. 11th and 12th Centuries. From Emperor Henry II "the Holy" (1002) to the end of the Third Crusade (1192)._

This volume covers emperor [Henry II the Holy](/wiki/Henry_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor "Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor"), who, in alliance with Pagans, fought three wars against Catholic Poland, the momentous pontificate of [Gregory VII](/wiki/Pope_Gregory_VII "Pope Gregory VII"), an "aggressive Satan", who led the [Holy See](/wiki/Holy_See "Holy See") to victory over the emperor's throne in the [Investiture Controversy](/wiki/Investiture_Controversy "Investiture Controversy") ( [Canossa](/wiki/Walk_to_Canossa "Walk to Canossa")), the [East-West Schism](/wiki/East-West_Schism "East-West Schism"), the [First Crusade](/wiki/First_Crusade "First Crusade") with the massacre of Jerusalem's inhabitants as well as the [Second](/wiki/Second_Crusade "Second Crusade") and [Third Crusade](/wiki/Third_Crusade "Third Crusade").

### Vol. 7: Das 13. und 14. Jahrhundert (13th and 14th Centuries)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Vol. 7: Das 13. und 14. Jahrhundert (13th and 14th Centuries)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (2002). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.7, Das 13. und 14. Jahrhundert_. Rowohlt, Reinbek. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01320-3](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01320-3 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01320-3").
- English title: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 7. 13th and 14th Centuries. From Emperor Henry VI (1190) to the death of Louis IV of Bavaria (1347)._

Deschner writes about the [Staufer](/wiki/House_of_Hohenstaufen "House of Hohenstaufen")-emperor [Henry VI](/wiki/Henry_VI,_Holy_Roman_Emperor "Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor"), who aimed for global dominance even without papal blessing, and about the most powerful pope of history, [Innocent III](/wiki/Pope_Innocent_III "Pope Innocent III"). During the time covered by this volume, crusades to all directions happened, including the [Fourth Crusade](/wiki/Fourth_Crusade "Fourth Crusade"), the crusade of [Frederick II](/wiki/Frederick_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor "Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor"), the crusades of [Louis IX](/wiki/Louis_IX_of_France "Louis IX of France") to Egypt and Tunis, the grotesque [Children's Crusade](/wiki/Children%27s_Crusade "Children's Crusade"), the crusades of Christians against Christians, the [Sicilian Vespers](/wiki/Sicilian_Vespers "Sicilian Vespers"), the extermination of the [Templars](/wiki/Knights_Templar "Knights Templar"), the annihilation of the Pagans in the northeast, the Christian murders of Jews and last but not least the totalitarian [Inquisition](/wiki/Inquisition "Inquisition"), which aimed for the repression of any liberal mind.

### Vol. 8: Das 15. und 16. Jahrhundert (The 15th and 16th century)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Vol. 8: Das 15. und 16. Jahrhundert (The 15th and 16th century)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (2004). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.8, Das 15. und 16. Jahrhundert. Vom Exil der Päpste in Avignon bis zum Augsburger Religionsfrieden_. Rowohlt Verlag GmbH. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-498-01323-8](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-498-01323-8 "Special:BookSources/3-498-01323-8").
- English title _(translation)_: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 8. The 15th and 16th century. From the exile of the popes in Avignon till the Peace Of Augsburg._

Deschner describes the beginning [witch-hunt](/wiki/Witch-hunt "Witch-hunt"), the [Western Schism](/wiki/Western_Schism "Western Schism"), the Renaissance popes, the fight against intra-Christian opposition ( [Wycliffe](/wiki/John_Wycliffe "John Wycliffe"), [Hus](/wiki/Jan_Hus "Jan Hus") and the [Council of Constance](/wiki/Council_of_Constance "Council of Constance"), [Luther](/wiki/Martin_Luther "Martin Luther") and the [German Peasants' War](/wiki/German_Peasants%27_War "German Peasants' War")).

### Vol. 9: Mitte des 16. bis Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts (Middle of 16th century till beginning of 18th century)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Vol. 9: Mitte des 16. bis Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts (Middle of 16th century till beginning of 18th century)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (2008). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.9, Mitte des 16. bis Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts. Vom Völkermord in der Neuen Welt bis zum Beginn der Aufklärung_. Rowohlt Verlag GmbH. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-3-498-01327-1](/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-498-01327-1 "Special:BookSources/978-3-498-01327-1").
- English title _(translation)_: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 9. Middle of 16th century till beginning of 18th century. From genocide in the New World till the beginning of the Enlightenment._

Volume 9 covers the following topics:

- The " [American Holocaust](/wiki/American_Holocaust "American Holocaust")"; the genocide in connection with the conquest and the [Christianization](/wiki/Christianization "Christianization") of the American continent.
- The [reformation in Switzerland](/wiki/Reformation_in_Switzerland "Reformation in Switzerland"); [Zwingli](/wiki/Huldrych_Zwingli "Huldrych Zwingli") and [Calvin](/wiki/John_Calvin "John Calvin")
- The [Counter-Reformation](/wiki/Counter-Reformation "Counter-Reformation")
- [Ignatius of Loyola](/wiki/Ignatius_of_Loyola "Ignatius of Loyola")
- The [Confessionalization](/wiki/Confessionalization "Confessionalization")
- [Society of Jesus](/wiki/Society_of_Jesus "Society of Jesus"); here, Deschner focuses on the religious order's influence on the political rulers of their time.
- Events, political players and their interests as well as their combination in the forefront of the Thiry Years' War.
- The [Thirty Years' War](/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War "Thirty Years' War"). The ostensibly religiously motivated events are analysed in the context of the European nobility's worldly oriented ambition for power and conquest.
- The war continued; the misery of the _Pax Christiana_; the time after the Thirty Years' War.

### Vol. 10: 18. Jahrhundert und Ausblick auf die Folgezeit (18th century and outlook onto the aftermath)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: Vol. 10: 18. Jahrhundert und Ausblick auf die Folgezeit (18th century and outlook onto the aftermath)")\]

- Deschner, Karlheinz (2013). _Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd.10, 18. Jahrhundert und Ausblick auf die Folgezeit. Könige von Gottes Gnaden und Niedergang des Papsttums_. Rowohlt Verlag GmbH. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-3498013318](/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3498013318 "Special:BookSources/978-3498013318").
- English title _(translation)_: _Christianity's Criminal History. Volume 10. 18th century and outlook onto the aftermath. Kings by grace of God and decline of papacy._

More than a quarter century after the first volume's publication, Deschner completed this work: The 10th and last volume of the Criminal History was published in March 2013. This volume covers:

- The decline of papacy.
- The gradual separation of church and state.

## Reception

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Reception")\]

The reactions to this book series have been mixed. While some praised Deschner's writings as a contribution to the [Enlightenment](/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment "Age of Enlightenment") as important as the works of [Pierre Bayle](/wiki/Pierre_Bayle "Pierre Bayle"), [Claude Helvétius](/wiki/Claude_Adrien_Helv%C3%A9tius "Claude Adrien Helvétius"), [Voltaire](/wiki/Voltaire "Voltaire") and [Heinrich Heine](/wiki/Heinrich_Heine "Heinrich Heine"), others condemned his _Christianity's Criminal History_ as "criminalisation of Christianity".

[Horst Herrmann](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst_Herrmann "de:Horst Herrmann"), from 1970 til 1975 professor of church law at the Catholic theological faculty of [Münster University](/wiki/M%C3%BCnster_University "Münster University"), who left the Catholic church in 1981, praised Deschner in 1989 in an article in [Der Spiegel](/wiki/Der_Spiegel "Der Spiegel")[\[5\]](#cite_note-5) as a moralist asking the question:

> _Wie viele Ermordete müssen denn noch her, bis Reue einsetzt und Abkehr? Wieviel muß aufgedeckt sein, bis Komplizenschaft sich nicht mehr lohnt? Bis es als Schande gilt, sich als Christ zu bekennen? Bis die Täter nicht mehr die Beleidigten spielen dürfen?_

English translation: _How many more need to be murdered until remorse and renunciation will finally begin? How much more needs to be exposed, until complicity won't be worth it anymore? Until confessing to Christianity is considered to be a shame? Until the wrongdoers are not allowed to act offended anymore?_

A three-day symposium organized by Hans Reinhard Seeliger in the Catholic Academy in [Schwerte](/wiki/Schwerte "Schwerte") was dedicated to the first three volumes in the beginning of October 1992. Besides Seeliger, 22 other specialists in Christian history, patrology, old history, archaeology, jurisprudence, and other fields participated. The symposium's papers were published in 1993 as an [anthology](/wiki/Anthology "Anthology").[\[6\]](#cite_note-6) Deschner refused the invitation arguing that he already answered all basic questions sufficiently in the preface of his first volume. He decided to exemplarily confront the paper _Emperor Konstantin, one of the Greats in history?_ in a reply which was put in front of the fifth volume. The other papers were skipped. Hermann Gieselbusch, lector with the Rowohlt publishing house, noted at the same place (preface of vol. 5), that only few symposium participants "abstained at least from personal revilement", mentioning four speakers by name - Ulrich Faust, Theofried Baumeister, Erich Feldmann und Gert Haendler - and thanking them for their fairness in Deschner's name.

When Deschner's _Criminal History_ (volumes 1 to 8) was published digitally as CD ROM in 2005, Giesbert Damaschke wrote in his recension:[\[7\]](#cite_note-7)

> _Wenn hierzulande das Stichwort "Kirchenkritik" fällt, dann kann man sicher sein, dass es \[...\] fast ausschließlich um das Werk eines einzelnen Mannes geht: Um Karlheinz Deschner \[...\]. So umfassend und omnipräsent ist sein Schaffen, \[...\] dass anderes daneben nur wie eine fade Wiederholung wirkt._

English translation: _Whenever the key word "criticism of the Church" is mentioned in this country \[Germany\], you can be sure that the discussion is \[...\] nearly exclusively about the work of one single man: Karlheinz Deschner \[...\]. His works are so comprehensive and omnipresent \[...\] that everything else looks like a bland repetition when compared to Deschner's works._

In 2008, after the publication of volume 9, Arno Widmann wrote in the [Frankfurter Rundschau](/wiki/Frankfurter_Rundschau "Frankfurter Rundschau"), _"Kette der Grausamkeiten"_ ( _"Chain of atrocities"_):[\[8\]](#cite_note-8)

> _Es gibt Sätze in diesem Buch, die möchte man auswendig lernen, um niemals zu vergessen, welches die Grundlagen der Welt sind, in der wir leben. Zum Beispiel dieser: "Lebten um 1650 in ganz Spanisch-Amerika noch etwa 4 Millionen Indianer, waren es um 1492, so die Schätzungen, 7 bis 100 Millionen, wobei 35 Millionen als plausibel gelten."_

English translation: _There are sentences in this book which you want to learn by heart to make sure you never forget what are the fundamentals of the world we live in. For example this: "While around 1650 there were about 4 million Native Americans left alive in whole Spanish-America, there were - according to estimations - between 7 and 100 million living there in 1492, at which the number 35 million is generally accepted."_

## References

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: References")\]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)**["Karlheinz Deschner: Kriminalgeschichte des Christentums, Bd. 9"](http://www.rowohlt.de/magazin_artikel/Karlheinz_Deschner_Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums_Bd_9.2849583.html). _Rowohlt Magazin_ (in German). [Rowohlt Verlag](/wiki/Rowohlt_Verlag "Rowohlt Verlag"). Retrieved 2013-01-25.
2. **[^](#cite_ref-2)**["Storia criminale del Cristianesimo"](http://www.edizioniariele.it/ilviandante_03.htm) (in Italian). Edizioni Ariele. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
3. **[^](#cite_ref-3)**["Christianity's Criminal History Paperback – Abridged, October 2, 2018"](https://www.amazon.com/Christianitys-Criminal-History-K-D/dp/0359124569). Lulu Press Inc. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
4. **[^](#cite_ref-4)**Karlheinz Deschner (2002-01-18). ["Christianity's Criminal History"](http://www.deschner.info/index.htm?/en/work/kg/criminalhistory.htm). Deschner.info. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
5. **[^](#cite_ref-5)**Herrmann, Horst (1989). ["Einer singt falsch beim Halleluja"](http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13493017.html). _Der Spiegel_ (1): 54–56.
6. **[^](#cite_ref-6)**Hans Reinhard Seeliger, ed. (1993). _Kriminalisierung des Christentums?: Karlheinz Deschners Kirchengeschichte auf dem Prüfstand_. [Freiburg im Breisgau](/wiki/Freiburg_im_Breisgau "Freiburg im Breisgau"): Herder. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [3-451-23222-7](/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-451-23222-7 "Special:BookSources/3-451-23222-7").
7. **[^](#cite_ref-7)**Damaschke, Giesbert. ["Religionskritik? Allerdings!"](http://www.literaturkritik.de/public/rezension.php?rez_id=8895&ausgabe=200512), _literaturkritik.de_, 2005 December 12. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
8. **[^](#cite_ref-8)**Widmann, Arno. ["Kette der Grausamkeiten"](http://www.fr-online.de/kultur/lesen-kette-der-grausamkeiten,1472786,3311046.html), _[Frankfurter Rundschau](/wiki/Frankfurter_Rundschau "Frankfurter Rundschau")_, Frankfurt, 2008 August 12. Retrieved 2013-01-30.

## External links

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Kriminalgeschichte_des_Christentums&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: External links")\]

- [_Christianity's Criminal History_](http://www.deschner.info/index.htm?/en/work/kg/criminalhistory.htm) on the author's website
- [Author's homepage](http://www.deschner.info/)

- [v](/wiki/Template:History_of_Christianity "Template:History of Christianity")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:History_of_Christianity "Template talk:History of Christianity")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:History_of_Christianity "Special:EditPage/Template:History of Christianity")

[History of Christianity](/wiki/History_of_Christianity "History of Christianity")

- [Early Christianity](/wiki/Early_Christianity "Early Christianity")
- [Spread](/wiki/Spread_of_Christianity "Spread of Christianity")

Centuries

- [1st](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_1st_century "Christianity in the 1st century")
- [2nd and 3rd](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_ante-Nicene_period "Christianity in the ante-Nicene period")
- [4th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_4th_century "Christianity in the 4th century")
- [5th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_5th_century "Christianity in the 5th century")
- [6th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_6th_century "Christianity in the 6th century")
- [7th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_7th_century "Christianity in the 7th century")
- [8th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_8th_century "Christianity in the 8th century")
- [9th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_9th_century "Christianity in the 9th century")
- [10th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_10th_century "Christianity in the 10th century")
- [11th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_11th_century "Christianity in the 11th century")
- [12th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_12th_century "Christianity in the 12th century")
- [13th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_13th_century "Christianity in the 13th century")
- [14th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_14th_century "Christianity in the 14th century")
- [15th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_15th_century "Christianity in the 15th century")
- [16th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_16th_century "Christianity in the 16th century")
- [17th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_17th_century "Christianity in the 17th century")
- [18th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_18th_century "Christianity in the 18th century")
- [19th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_19th_century "Christianity in the 19th century")
- [20th](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_20th_century "Christianity in the 20th century")
- [21st](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_21st_century "Christianity in the 21st century")

Origins and

Apostolic Age

- [Background](/wiki/Historical_background_of_the_New_Testament "Historical background of the New Testament")
- [Life of Jesus](/wiki/Life_of_Jesus "Life of Jesus")
  - [Baptism](/wiki/Baptism_of_Jesus "Baptism of Jesus")
  - [Ministry](/wiki/Ministry_of_Jesus "Ministry of Jesus")
  - [Crucifixion](/wiki/Crucifixion_of_Jesus "Crucifixion of Jesus")
  - [Resurrection](/wiki/Resurrection_of_Jesus "Resurrection of Jesus")
  - [Great Commission](/wiki/Great_Commission "Great Commission")
- [Holy Spirit](/wiki/Holy_Spirit_in_Christianity "Holy Spirit in Christianity")
- [Apostles in the New Testament](/wiki/Apostles_in_the_New_Testament "Apostles in the New Testament")
- [Jewish Christians](/wiki/Jewish_Christian "Jewish Christian")
- [Paul the Apostle](/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle "Paul the Apostle")
- [Council of Jerusalem](/wiki/Council_of_Jerusalem "Council of Jerusalem")
  - [Gospels](/wiki/Gospel "Gospel")
  - [Acts](/wiki/Acts_of_the_Apostles "Acts of the Apostles")
  - [Pauline epistles](/wiki/Pauline_epistles "Pauline epistles")
  - [General epistles](/wiki/Catholic_epistles "Catholic epistles")
  - [Revelation](/wiki/Book_of_Revelation "Book of Revelation")

[Ante-Nicene\
\
period](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_ante-Nicene_period "Christianity in the ante-Nicene period")

- [Diversity](/wiki/Diversity_in_early_Christian_theology "Diversity in early Christian theology")
  - [Adoptionism](/wiki/Adoptionism "Adoptionism")
  - [Arianism](/wiki/Arianism "Arianism")
  - [Docetism](/wiki/Docetism "Docetism")
  - [Donatism](/wiki/Donatism "Donatism")
  - [Gnosticism](/wiki/Gnosticism "Gnosticism")
  - [Marcionism](/wiki/Marcionism "Marcionism")
  - [Montanism](/wiki/Montanism "Montanism")
- [Canon development](/wiki/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon "Development of the New Testament canon")
- [Persecution](/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Roman_Empire "Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire")
- [Apostolic](/wiki/Apostolic_Fathers "Apostolic Fathers") / [Church Fathers](/wiki/Church_Fathers "Church Fathers")
  - [Clement of Rome](/wiki/Clement_of_Rome "Clement of Rome")
  - [Polycarp](/wiki/Polycarp "Polycarp")
  - [Ignatius](/wiki/Ignatius_of_Antioch "Ignatius of Antioch")
  - [Irenaeus](/wiki/Irenaeus "Irenaeus")
  - [Justin Martyr](/wiki/Justin_Martyr "Justin Martyr")
  - [Tertullian](/wiki/Tertullian "Tertullian")
  - [Origen](/wiki/Origen "Origen")
- [Early African](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_Roman_Africa_province "Christianity in the Roman Africa province")

[Late antiquity](/wiki/Christianity_in_late_antiquity "Christianity in late antiquity")

( [Great Church](/wiki/Great_Church "Great Church"))

- [Constantine](/wiki/Constantine_the_Great_and_Christianity "Constantine the Great and Christianity")
  - [Constantinian shift](/wiki/Constantinian_shift "Constantinian shift")
- [Roman state religion](/wiki/Christianity_as_the_Roman_state_religion "Christianity as the Roman state religion")
- [Monasticism](/wiki/Christian_monasticism "Christian monasticism")
- [Councils](/wiki/First_seven_ecumenical_councils "First seven ecumenical councils")
- [Nicaea I](/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea "First Council of Nicaea")
  - [Creed](/wiki/Nicene_Creed "Nicene Creed")
  - [Christianity](/wiki/Nicene_Christianity "Nicene Christianity")
- [Athanasius](/wiki/Athanasius_of_Alexandria "Athanasius of Alexandria")
- [Jerome](/wiki/Jerome "Jerome")
- [Augustine](/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo "Augustine of Hippo")
- [Constantinople I](/wiki/First_Council_of_Constantinople "First Council of Constantinople")
- [Ephesus I](/wiki/Council_of_Ephesus "Council of Ephesus")
- [Chalcedon](/wiki/Council_of_Chalcedon "Council of Chalcedon")
  - [Chalcedonian](/wiki/Chalcedonian_Christianity "Chalcedonian Christianity") / [Non-Chalcedonian](/wiki/Non-Chalcedonian_Christianity "Non-Chalcedonian Christianity")
- [Biblical canon](/wiki/Biblical_canon "Biblical canon")

[Catholicism](/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church "History of the Catholic Church")

- [Papacy](/wiki/History_of_the_papacy "History of the papacy")
  - [Development of primacy](/wiki/History_of_papal_primacy "History of papal primacy")
  - [Eastern Orthodox opposition](/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_opposition_to_papal_supremacy "Eastern Orthodox opposition to papal supremacy")
- [Crusading movement](/wiki/Crusading_movement "Crusading movement")
- [Lateran IV](/wiki/Fourth_Council_of_the_Lateran "Fourth Council of the Lateran")
- [Art patronage of Julius II](/wiki/Art_patronage_of_Julius_II "Art patronage of Julius II")
- [Leo X](/wiki/Pope_Leo_X "Pope Leo X")
- [Counter-Reformation](/wiki/Counter-Reformation "Counter-Reformation")
  - [Trent](/wiki/Council_of_Trent "Council of Trent")
  - [Art](/wiki/Art_in_the_Protestant_Reformation_and_Counter-Reformation "Art in the Protestant Reformation and Counter-Reformation")
  - [Catholic Reformation](/wiki/Catholic_Reformation "Catholic Reformation")
  - [Jesuits](/wiki/Society_of_Jesus "Society of Jesus")
    - [Xavier](/wiki/Francis_Xavier "Francis Xavier")
- [Thomas More](/wiki/Thomas_More "Thomas More")
- [Monastery dissolution](/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_monasteries "Dissolution of the monasteries")
- [Wars](/wiki/European_wars_of_religion "European wars of religion")
- [Mass rocks](/wiki/Mass_rock "Mass rock") and [priest holes](/wiki/Priest_hole "Priest hole")
- [Guadalupe](/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe "Our Lady of Guadalupe")
- [Jansenists](/wiki/Jansenism "Jansenism")
- [Molinists](/wiki/Molinism "Molinism")
- [Neo-Scholasticism](/wiki/Scholasticism#Neo-Scholasticism "Scholasticism")
- [Teresa](/wiki/Teresa_of_%C3%81vila "Teresa of Ávila")
- [Modernism](/wiki/Modernism_in_the_Catholic_Church "Modernism in the Catholic Church")
- [Independent Catholics](/wiki/Independent_Catholicism "Independent Catholicism")
- [Vatican I](/wiki/First_Vatican_Council "First Vatican Council") and [Vatican II](/wiki/Second_Vatican_Council "Second Vatican Council")
  - [Ecclesial community](/wiki/Ecclesial_community "Ecclesial community")
- [Timeline](/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Catholic_Church "Timeline of the Catholic Church")

[Eastern\
\
Christianity](/wiki/History_of_Eastern_Christianity "History of Eastern Christianity")

- [Eastern Orthodoxy](/wiki/History_of_the_Eastern_Orthodox_Church "History of the Eastern Orthodox Church")
- [Oriental Orthodoxy](/wiki/History_of_Oriental_Orthodoxy "History of Oriental Orthodoxy")
- [Church of the East](/wiki/Church_of_the_East "Church of the East")
- [Chrysostom](/wiki/John_Chrysostom "John Chrysostom")
- [Nestorianism](/wiki/Nestorianism "Nestorianism")
- [Icons](/wiki/Icon#History "Icon")
  - [Iconodulism](/wiki/Iconodulism "Iconodulism")
  - [Iconoclasm](/wiki/Byzantine_Iconoclasm "Byzantine Iconoclasm")
- [Great Schism](/wiki/East%E2%80%93West_Schism "East–West Schism")
- [Fall of Constantinople](/wiki/Fall_of_Constantinople "Fall of Constantinople")
- [Armenia](/wiki/Christianization_of_Armenia "Christianization of Armenia")
- [Georgia](/wiki/Christianization_of_Iberia "Christianization of Iberia")
- [Greece](/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy_in_Greece "Eastern Orthodoxy in Greece")
- [Egypt](/wiki/Coptic_history "Coptic history")
- [Syriac](/wiki/Syriac_Christianity "Syriac Christianity")
- [Serbian](/wiki/Serbian_Orthodox_Church "Serbian Orthodox Church")
- [Ethiopia](/wiki/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Tewahedo_Church "Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church")
- [Ottoman Empire](/wiki/History_of_the_Eastern_Orthodox_Church_under_the_Ottoman_Empire "History of the Eastern Orthodox Church under the Ottoman Empire")
- [Russia](/wiki/History_of_the_Russian_Orthodox_Church "History of the Russian Orthodox Church")
- [North America](/wiki/Timeline_of_Eastern_Orthodoxy_in_North_America "Timeline of Eastern Orthodoxy in North America")

[Middle Ages](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_Middle_Ages "Christianity in the Middle Ages")

- [Pelagianism](/wiki/Pelagianism "Pelagianism")
- [Gregory I](/wiki/Pope_Gregory_I "Pope Gregory I")
- [Celtic](/wiki/Celtic_Christianity "Celtic Christianity")
- [Germanic](/wiki/Christianisation_of_the_Germanic_peoples "Christianisation of the Germanic peoples")
  - [Anglo-Saxon](/wiki/Christianisation_of_Anglo-Saxon_England "Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England")
  - [Franks](/wiki/Christianization_of_the_Franks "Christianization of the Franks")
  - [Gothic](/wiki/Gothic_Christianity "Gothic Christianity")
  - [Scandinavian](/wiki/Christianization_of_Scandinavia "Christianization of Scandinavia")
    - [Iceland](/wiki/Christianization_of_Iceland "Christianization of Iceland")
- [Slavs](/wiki/Christianization_of_the_Slavs "Christianization of the Slavs")
  - [Bohemia](/wiki/Christianization_of_Bohemia "Christianization of Bohemia")
  - [Bulgaria](/wiki/Christianization_of_Bulgaria "Christianization of Bulgaria")
  - [Kievan Rus'](/wiki/Christianization_of_Kievan_Rus%27 "Christianization of Kievan Rus'")
  - [Moravia](/wiki/Christianization_of_Moravia "Christianization of Moravia")
  - [Poland](/wiki/Christianization_of_Poland "Christianization of Poland")
  - [Pomerania](/wiki/Christianization_of_Pomerania "Christianization of Pomerania")
- [Investiture](/wiki/Investiture_Controversy "Investiture Controversy")
- [Anselm](/wiki/Anselm_of_Canterbury "Anselm of Canterbury")
- [Abelard](/wiki/Peter_Abelard "Peter Abelard")
- [Bernard](/wiki/Bernard_of_Clairvaux "Bernard of Clairvaux")
- [Bogomils](/wiki/Bogomilism "Bogomilism")
- [Bosnian](/wiki/Bosnian_Church "Bosnian Church")
- [Cathars](/wiki/Catharism "Catharism")
- [Apostolic Brethren](/wiki/Apostolic_Brethren "Apostolic Brethren")
- [Dulcinian](/wiki/Dulcinian "Dulcinian")
- [Crusades](/wiki/Crusades "Crusades")
- [Waldensians](/wiki/Waldensians "Waldensians")
- [Inquisition](/wiki/Inquisition "Inquisition")
- [Early Scholasticism](/wiki/Scholasticism#Early_Scholasticism "Scholasticism")
- [Christian mysticism](/wiki/Christian_mysticism "Christian mysticism")
- [Dominic](/wiki/Saint_Dominic "Saint Dominic")
- [Francis](/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi "Francis of Assisi")
- [Bonaventure](/wiki/Bonaventure "Bonaventure")
- [Aquinas](/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas "Thomas Aquinas")
  - [Five Ways](/wiki/Five_Ways_(Aquinas) "Five Ways (Aquinas)")
- [Wycliffe](/wiki/John_Wycliffe "John Wycliffe")
- [Avignon](/wiki/Avignon_Papacy "Avignon Papacy")
- [Papal Schism](/wiki/Western_Schism "Western Schism")
- [Bohemian Reformation](/wiki/Bohemian_Reformation "Bohemian Reformation")
- [Hus](/wiki/Jan_Hus "Jan Hus")
- [Conciliarism](/wiki/Conciliarism "Conciliarism")
  - [Synods](/wiki/Synod "Synod")

[Reformation](/wiki/Reformation "Reformation")

and

[Protestantism](/wiki/History_of_Protestantism "History of Protestantism")

- [Erasmus](/wiki/Erasmus "Erasmus")
- [Eucharist](/wiki/Eucharistic_theology "Eucharistic theology")
- [Calvinist–Arminian debate](/wiki/History_of_the_Calvinist%E2%80%93Arminian_debate "History of the Calvinist–Arminian debate")
- [Arminianism](/wiki/Arminianism "Arminianism")
- [Wars](/wiki/Counter-Reformation#Politics "Counter-Reformation")
  - [Resistance theories](/wiki/Resistance_theory_in_the_Early_Modern_period#Christian_resistance_theories_of_the_early_modern_period "Resistance theory in the Early Modern period")
- [Separation of church and state](/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state#Reformation "Separation of church and state")
- [Nicodemites](/wiki/Nicodemite "Nicodemite")
- [Hymnody of continental Europe](/wiki/Hymnody_of_continental_Europe "Hymnody of continental Europe")
- [Formal and material principles](/wiki/Formal_and_material_principles_of_theology "Formal and material principles of theology")
- [Law and Gospel](/wiki/Law_and_Gospel "Law and Gospel")
- [Literature](/wiki/Template:Reformation_literature "Template:Reformation literature")
- [Protestant work ethic](/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic "Protestant work ethic")

[Lutheranism](/wiki/History_of_Lutheranism "History of Lutheranism")

- [Luther](/wiki/Martin_Luther "Martin Luther")
  - _[Ninety-five Theses](/wiki/Ninety-five_Theses "Ninety-five Theses")_
  - [Diet of Worms](/wiki/Diet_of_Worms "Diet of Worms")
  - [Theology](/wiki/Theology_of_Martin_Luther "Theology of Martin Luther")
  - [Bible](/wiki/Luther_Bible "Luther Bible")
- [Melanchthon](/wiki/Philip_Melanchthon "Philip Melanchthon")
- _[Book of Concord](/wiki/Book_of_Concord "Book of Concord")_
- [Orthodoxy](/wiki/Lutheran_orthodoxy "Lutheran orthodoxy")
- [Eucharist](/wiki/Sacramental_union "Sacramental union")
- [Art](/wiki/Lutheran_art "Lutheran art")

[Calvinism](/wiki/History_of_Reformed_Christianity "History of Reformed Christianity")

- [Zwingli](/wiki/Huldrych_Zwingli "Huldrych Zwingli")
- [Calvin](/wiki/John_Calvin "John Calvin")
- [Huguenots](/wiki/Huguenots "Huguenots")
- [Presbyterianism](/wiki/Presbyterianism "Presbyterianism")
- [Scotland](/wiki/Scottish_Reformation "Scottish Reformation")
- [Knox](/wiki/John_Knox "John Knox")
- [TULIP](/wiki/Five_points_of_Calvinism "Five points of Calvinism")
- [Baptism](/wiki/Reformed_baptismal_theology "Reformed baptismal theology")
- [Dort](/wiki/Synod_of_Dort "Synod of Dort")
- [Three Forms of Unity](/wiki/Three_Forms_of_Unity "Three Forms of Unity")
- [Westminster](/wiki/Westminster_Assembly "Westminster Assembly")
- [Orthodoxy](/wiki/Reformed_orthodoxy "Reformed orthodoxy")
- [Metrical psalters](/wiki/Metrical_psalter "Metrical psalter")

[Anglicanism](/wiki/English_Reformation "English Reformation")

- [Timeline](/wiki/Timeline_of_the_English_Reformation "Timeline of the English Reformation")
- [Henry VIII](/wiki/Henry_VIII "Henry VIII")
- [Cranmer](/wiki/Thomas_Cranmer "Thomas Cranmer")
- [Elizabethan](/wiki/Elizabethan_Religious_Settlement "Elizabethan Religious Settlement")
- [39 Articles](/wiki/Thirty-nine_Articles "Thirty-nine Articles")
- [Puritans](/wiki/Puritans "Puritans")
- [Civil War](/wiki/English_Civil_War "English Civil War")
- [Church music](/wiki/Anglican_church_music "Anglican church music")
- _[Book of Common Prayer](/wiki/Book_of_Common_Prayer "Book of Common Prayer")_
- [King James Version](/wiki/King_James_Version "King James Version")

[Anabaptism](/wiki/Anabaptism "Anabaptism")

- [Theology](/wiki/Anabaptist_theology "Anabaptist theology")
- [Radical Reformation](/wiki/Radical_Reformation "Radical Reformation")
- [Grebel](/wiki/Conrad_Grebel "Conrad Grebel")
- [Swiss Brethren](/wiki/Swiss_Brethren "Swiss Brethren")
- [Müntzer](/wiki/Thomas_M%C3%BCntzer "Thomas Müntzer")
- [Martyrs' Synod](/wiki/Martyrs%27_Synod "Martyrs' Synod")
- [Menno Simons](/wiki/Menno_Simons "Menno Simons")
- [Smyth](/wiki/John_Smyth_(English_theologian) "John Smyth (English theologian)")
- _[Martyrs Mirror](/wiki/Martyrs_Mirror "Martyrs Mirror")_
- _[Ausbund](/wiki/Ausbund "Ausbund")_

[1640–1789](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_modern_era "Christianity in the modern era")

- [Revivalism](/wiki/Christian_revival "Christian revival")
- [Missionaries](/wiki/Christian_mission "Christian mission")
- [Baptists](/wiki/Baptists "Baptists")
  - [Separation of church and state](/wiki/Baptists_in_the_history_of_separation_of_church_and_state "Baptists in the history of separation of church and state")
- [Edicts of toleration](/wiki/Edict_of_toleration#Early_modern_period "Edict of toleration")
- [Congregationalism](/wiki/Congregational_church "Congregational church")
- [First Great Awakening](/wiki/First_Great_Awakening "First Great Awakening")
- [Methodism](/wiki/Methodism "Methodism")
- [Millerism](/wiki/Millerism "Millerism")
- [Pietism](/wiki/Pietism "Pietism")
  - [Fostering of early experimental science](/wiki/Merton_thesis "Merton thesis")
- [Neo-](/wiki/Neo-Lutheranism "Neo-Lutheranism") and [Old Lutherans](/wiki/Old_Lutherans "Old Lutherans")

[1789–present](/wiki/Christianity_in_the_modern_era "Christianity in the modern era")

- [Camp meeting](/wiki/Camp_meeting "Camp meeting")
- [Holiness movement](/wiki/Holiness_movement "Holiness movement")
- [Second Great Awakening](/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening "Second Great Awakening")
- [Restorationists](/wiki/Restoration_Movement "Restoration Movement")
- [Jehovah's Witnesses](/wiki/History_of_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses "History of Jehovah's Witnesses")
- [Mormonism](/wiki/History_of_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement "History of the Latter Day Saint movement")
- [Seventh-day Adventist](/wiki/History_of_the_Seventh-day_Adventist_Church "History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church")
- [Adventism](/wiki/Adventism "Adventism")
- [Oxford Movement](/wiki/Oxford_Movement "Oxford Movement")
- [Laestadianism](/wiki/Laestadianism "Laestadianism")
- [Finnish Awakening](/wiki/Awakening_(Finnish_religious_movement) "Awakening (Finnish religious movement)")
- [Christian existentialism](/wiki/Christian_existentialism "Christian existentialism")
- [Third Great Awakening](/wiki/Third_Great_Awakening "Third Great Awakening")
- [Azusa Revival](/wiki/Azusa_Street_Revival "Azusa Street Revival")
- [Gospel music](/wiki/Gospel_music "Gospel music")
- [Fundamentalist – Modernist controversy](/wiki/Fundamentalist%E2%80%93Modernist_controversy "Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy")
- [Pacifism](/wiki/Christian_pacifism "Christian pacifism")
- [Ecumenism](/wiki/Ecumenism "Ecumenism")
- [Five _solae_](/wiki/Five_solae "Five solae")
- [Jesus movement](/wiki/Jesus_movement "Jesus movement")
- [Pentecostalism](/wiki/Pentecostalism "Pentecostalism")
- [Charismatics](/wiki/Charismatic_Movement "Charismatic Movement")
- [Liberation theology](/wiki/Liberation_theology "Liberation theology")
- [Reformed epistemology](/wiki/Reformed_epistemology "Reformed epistemology")
- [Fourth Great Awakening](/wiki/Fourth_Great_Awakening "Fourth Great Awakening")
- [Evangelical](/wiki/Evangelicalism "Evangelicalism") and [Mainline](/wiki/Mainline_Protestant "Mainline Protestant") Protestants
- [Christian right](/wiki/Christian_right "Christian right") and [left](/wiki/Christian_left "Christian left")
- [Political influence of Evangelicalism in Latin America](/wiki/Political_influence_of_Evangelicalism_in_Latin_America "Political influence of Evangelicalism in Latin America")

- [Timeline](/wiki/Timeline_of_Christianity "Timeline of Christianity")
  - [Missions](/wiki/Timeline_of_Christian_missions "Timeline of Christian missions")
  - [Martyrs](/wiki/List_of_Christian_martyrs "List of Christian martyrs")
- [Theology](/wiki/History_of_Christian_theology "History of Christian theology")
- [Eastern Orthodoxy](/wiki/History_of_the_Eastern_Orthodox_Church "History of the Eastern Orthodox Church")
- [Oriental Orthodoxy](/wiki/History_of_Oriental_Orthodoxy "History of Oriental Orthodoxy")
- [Protestantism](/wiki/History_of_Protestantism "History of Protestantism")
- [Catholicism](/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church "History of the Catholic Church")

[Authority control databases](/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control")[![Edit this at Wikidata](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1788974#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata")

International

- [VIAF](https://viaf.org/viaf/205134140)

National

- [Germany](https://d-nb.info/gnd/4326341-0)

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[Categories](/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"):

- [Books critical of religion](/wiki/Category:Books_critical_of_religion "Category:Books critical of religion")
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- [Rowohlt Verlag books](/wiki/Category:Rowohlt_Verlag_books "Category:Rowohlt Verlag books")
- [Books critical of Christianity](/wiki/Category:Books_critical_of_Christianity "Category:Books critical of Christianity")

Hidden categories:

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