The Sword and the Cross

Based on a major BBC Scotland history series that explores the great good - and the great harm - that the people of Scotland have experienced in the name of religion, this title presents original research and new perspectives to show Scottish history in a new light. In the relatively secular age in which we live today, we are inclined to overlook the strength and depth of the religious roots that have shaped the Scottish nation. The often violent, often progressive history of Christianity continues to influence the character and culture of the Scots, even if these influences are now partially obscured by the mists of time. Concentrates on four key episodes of Scottish history, this volume draws on research that does not appear in other popular history books and pulls you into the lives of the people who have formed Scotland.