Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Beliefs Chapter 2 - Church services: the sacraments and public worship Chapter 3 - Church organization Chapter 4 - Ethical teaching Chapter 5 - Sources of Authority: the Bible and Tradition Chapter 6 - The Christian World Picture Chapter 7 - What did lay people know about their faith, and how did they know it? Chapter 8 - Rites of passage: baptism, marriage, death Chapter 9 - Popular religious devotions Chapter 10 - The lay quest for holiness and the Church's attempt to clericalize these movements Chapter 11 - Difficulties of belief Chapter 12 - The survival of the old religion Chapter 13 - Witchcraft, ritual magic and the cult of the Magus Chapter 14 - The growth of a dissenting tradition Chapter 15 - Contact with other forms of Christianity and other religions Glossary of technical terms

Promotional Information

* Presents essential information fairly and comprehensively * A straightforward introduction to the institutions and practice of religion from the fall of the Roman Empire to the eve of the Reformation * Thoroughly updated and reorganized, making it easier to approach and use

About the Author

Bernard Hamilton is Professor Emeritus of Crusading History at the University of Nottingham.