This book is intended to be ambitious and distinctive both in terms of the approach it adopts and the questions it poses. It is written in the belief that the modern experience of Christianity can only be appreciated fully in the light of its past history. It is thus the natural successor to An Introduction to the History of Christianity: from the early Church to the Enlightenment. As such the new book covers the chronological period from the eighteenth century to the start of the twenty first century. In addition it also explores the evolution of concepts first encountered in Introduction such as authority, tradition, reform and hierarchy, but now in their modern context, and concentrates once again on the mutual impacts of Christianity and the secular world. It will ask a series of questions about how Christianity developed in the new era, in the light of its relative successes or failures in previous ages. A broadly thematic rather than strictly chronological method will be at the heart of the structure. The book is organised into three main sections, each analysing a particular theme, and divided into a number of chapters. At the conclusion of each chapter a `Suggested Further Reading' section replaces a conventional bibliography.