The Age of Paradise

<p><span style=color: rgba(21 27 38 1)>Before there was a West there was Christendom. This book tells the story of how both came to be. (from the Introduction)</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(21 27 38 1)> </span></p><p><em style=color: rgba(21 27 38 1)>The Age of Paradise</em><span style=color: rgba(21 27 38 1)> is the first of a projected four-volume history of Christendom a civilization with a supporting culture that gave rise to what we now call the West. At a time of renewed interest in the future of Western culture author John Strickland-an Orthodox scholar professor and priest-offers a vision rooted in the deep past of the first millennium. At the heart of his story is the early Church's culture of paradise an experience of the world in which the kingdom of heaven was tangible and familiar. Drawing not only on worship and theology but statecraft and the arts the author reveals the remarkably affirmative character Western culture once had under the influence of Christianity-in particular of Eastern Christendom which served the West not only as a cradle but as a tutor and guardian as well. </span></p>