A Layman’s Guide to

About the Book

This history of the origins and development of Christian denominations is in layman’s language. Readers will not become bogged down in technical or archaic terms. Begin by reading about the Christian groups, denominations, that developed in the time between Jesus’ crucifixion and the formal origins of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Learn how the Roman empire came to accept Christianity as its religion, of the cooperation and struggles between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches and how that led to their separation.

Read about how the Black Death, the Crusades, the struggles within the Roman Catholic Church led some church leaders, such as Martin Luther, to attempt to reform the church, and how those attempts led to The Reformation. That opened the door to England declaring that the Church of England, the Anglican Church is the true Christian church. John Calvin laid the ground work for what became the Presbyterian and the Reformed churches. Then came the Huguenots and the Walloons, and the Puritan-Pilgrims who came to America and evolved into such as the Congregationalists.

Back in England the Quakers experienced persecution that encouraged them to move to America. John Wesley began what evolved into Methodism. The American Revolution caused American churches of English origin to separate from their English roots and to become such as the Episcopalians and the Methodists.

Read about the history of the many denominations that have come into being in The United States. There are the numerous “Christian” churches, the Unitarians, Spiritualist churches, Mormons, Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, Pentecostalism and many independent non-denominational churches.

It is fascinating history, and all in layman’s language.

About the Author

Trickler is a Christian layman with an interest in history, particularly in the history of Christianity. After military service in World War II he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering and went to work for a manufacturer of industrial air-moving equipment. (Think of such as the control of air pollution from chemical plants.) He worked his way up through research to engineering management, to manufacturing management, and retired as vice president of corporate development, all with the same company.

After retirement Trickler found time to delve more deeply into his interest in the history of Christianity. What began simply as reading for personal enjoyment led to making notes, and then to arranging those notes so as to put his conclusions in logical order. That led to thoughts of putting his work together so as to make it available for his children and grandchildren. (He jokes about visualizing his grandchildren pointing with pride to his book and telling friends, "My Grandpa wrote that; someday I’m going to read it."

Trickler’s first book A Layman’s Guide to – Who Wrote the books of the Bible? When? Why? was so well received that he was encouraged to create this book about the origins of Christian denominations.