History

Everyday Faith in the Middle Ages: From the Editor – Faith that Filled the Nooks and Crannies

We Christians of the closing years of the twentieth century have a lot to complain about.

We complain that modern Christianity is so fractured that we’ve made a scandal of Jesus’ prayer that all his followers be one. Yet there was a time in history when Christianity was one.

We long for political leaders who identify themselves as Christians and try to live by their convictions. Yet there was a time when this was so.

We complain that our society has gone secular, and we yearn and pray that Christian values (rather than hedonism, lust, and consumerism) be represented in television, movies, and popular magazines. Yet there was a time when popular culture was Christian.

It was called the high Middle Ages, from roughly A.D. 1000 to 1500.

It wasn’t heaven on earth, by any means. Protestants, for example, are troubled by many doctrines and practices of the medieval church. But it is instructive even for Protestants to look at the era, for it was the only era in history when Christianity held sway over all of society, managing to lodge itself in the king’s palace and the peasant’s hut, in the farmer’s field and the merchant’s shop—and in every nook and cranny of daily life.

In this issue, we look at the faith in the nooks and crannies of the medieval world, faith as it was lived out every day by everyday people. We examine the main devotional practices that energized Christians. We look at some individual portraits of “typical” medieval Christians. We glimpse into family life and knighthood, into heresy and cathedral building.

This is by no means a comprehensive look at everyday faith in the Middle Ages; we only dip into the immense and complex medieval world, and then only here and there. Our hope is simply this: to give you a feel for what it might have been like to live in the nooks and crannies of late-medieval Europe.

P.S. Beginning with the next issue, we’ll feature letters to the editor. So let us know what you think—by “snail mail,” e-mail, or fax! Send your letters to 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL, 60188, or by e-mail to chedit@aol.com, or by fax to 708–260–0114.

Copyright © 1996 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine. Click here for reprint information on Christian History.

Our Latest

News

Government Shutdown Deepens Hunger Crisis

When paychecks and SNAP distributions stop, the food pantry line grows.

Jonah in an Age of Outrage

The prophet’s lesson is also ours: We must recover compassion for neighbor and enemy alike, or our words will be hollow.

Grassroots Efforts Bring Together Diverse Sects in Iraq

Interfaith group uses projects and dialogues to push for greater religious freedom.

Becoming Part of God’s Family

Weekly participation in ordinary church life isn’t flashy, but it is radical.

The Russell Moore Show

David French on Faith, Fear, and the Future of the Church

David French checks in on a potpourri of important subjects.

News

‘Every Adoptee’s Worst Nightmare’

The horrifying history of adoption fraud in South Korea has spurred Christians to finally care for orphans in their own country.

The Bulletin

NYC Mayoral Race, Trump Softens to Ukraine, and Can Horror Films Edify?

Mamdani leads NYC mayoral race, Trump-Putin relationship cools, and why horror movies might help you cope in a horrible world.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube