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Charles Farhadian’s interest in Christianity and its relationship to cultures worldwide began at an early age. He grew up in Oakland with his family attending an Armenian Apostolic Church. They eventually left that church, believing it promoted culture rather than the Gospel. They then joined the Swedish Covenant Church.

“I have fond memories of learning Armenian dance as my cousin played the oud in the fellowship hall after the service,” Farhadian says. “Leaving Eastern Orthodoxy and embracing Evangelical Protestantism meant many things, but as a young boy, I recall thinking that I was exchanging Armenian food and families for Swedish food and families — shish kebab for raw herring? Really!”

Farhadian notes the difficulty of untangling cultural, social and theological aspects of Christianity. “By shining a light on each of these features of our lives, however, we can see the broad impact of Christianity,” he says.

For example, those unaware of the contextual nature of Christianity can focus on the relationship between Christianity and culture, which illuminates the challenges and opportunities of Christian witness to our neighbors and across the globe. “I suggest in the book that Christianity is never a pure form; in fact, nothing is Christian at the start,” Farhadian says. “What we know to be Christian has been redeemed in the light of Jesus Christ.”

Think of some common features of Christianity, such as baptism, church or deacons. “They all preceded the emergence of Christianity,” he says. “They were converted under the revelation of Christ, given new meaning, redeemed and made useful for the purposes of our loving triune God. God’s work is to redeem.”

Farhadian, �Ļ�ӰԺ professor of world religions and Christian mission, has used this unique perspective in a compelling new book, “Christianity: A Brief Introduction,” which explores the shape and movement of Christianity’s past, present and future while examining its distinctiveness.

“Christianity is the world’s largest religion, yet many people are religiously illiterate,” he says. “It seemed time to present a clear introduction of Christianity for the educated, non-specialist reader, particularly given the politicization of Christianity these past few years. In my inter- national travels, I have heard such questions as, ‘What religion are you, Baptist or Methodist?’ when both are Christian.”

Farhadian wrote “Christianity: A Brief Introduction” for the unchurched but considers it helpful for Christians as well. With its approachable size, Farhadian says it makes a superb supplemental text in a classroom where students also read primary source materials. “The book was written for those with no background in Christianity who want to learn about a religion that has shaped the lives of billions of people — a religion that may be the greatest engine of transformation in the history of the world,” he says.

Unlike other introductory books about Christianity, this one avoids technical theological language, which might dissuade general readers. “The book focuses on providing a lucid introduction to Christianity rather than impressing readers with theological jargon,” he says.

Farhadian organized the book according to seven basic questions, appealing to the average reader looking for answers:

1. Who Are Christians?
2. Where Are Christians?
3. Why Is the Bible So Important to Christians?
4. What Is the Christian Church?
5. How Do Christians Worship?
6. Where Is Christianity Going?
7. How Does Christianity Relate to Other Religions?

Farhadian and Jim Kinney, executive vice president of Baker Publishing, developed the basic questions they think readers want answered. “In the book’s final form, readers can tackle just a few questions,” Farhadian says. “Someone interested in learning about Christianity can start their exploration by reviewing the basic questions listed in the table of contents.”

The book attempts to present Christianity broadly, incorporating Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox formulations of the faith.

Farhadian, who earned a doctorate from Boston University, has written the book “Introducing World Religions,” edited “Introducing World Christianity” and “Christian Worship Worldwide” and coedited “The Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion.” He joined the �Ļ�ӰԺ faculty in 2004, won Faculty Researcher of the Year for 2010-11 and received the Bruce and Adaline Bare Teacher of the Year Award in 2012.