Silver Spring, MD — Offering an insightful and engaging look at Christianity’s political and cultural influence over the millennia, The Christians debuts on home video on November 3, 2009. Filmed on location in more than 30 countries around the globe, this epic 13-part documentary examines Christianity not as a religious faith, but as a historical and cultural force—one that has inspired benevolence and conquest, sublime art, and barbaric warfare through the centuries. Written and presented by noted author and British TV host Bamber Gascoigne (University Challenge), the series was syndicated on PBS in the 1980s. Bonus features include a 16-page viewer’s guide, among others (DVD 5-vol., $99.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Over the last two millennia, Jesus of Nazareth—an itinerant Jewish preacher who was publicly executed—impacted history more than any other human being. Once a persecuted minority, his followers conquered nations, created artistic and architectural masterpieces, and committed atrocities. In this sweeping 13-part documentary, Bamber Gascoigne examines Christianity not as a religion, but as a potent historical force that continues to shape our world.

The Christians shows how one faith has influenced a vast array of cultures and, in turn, how it has adapted to diversity. It takes a penetrating look at emperors and evangelists, monks and madmen, artists and inquisitors as it reveals the conflicts, reconciliations, and controversies of one of the world’s most pervasive religions.

The series visits austere mountaintop monasteries, remote jungle missions, and magnificent cathedrals in more than 30 countries to show how Christianity has adapted to various cultures and transformed them in turn.

BONUS FEATURES

• A new introductory segment by host Bamber Gascoigne
• 16-page viewer’s guide includes highlights, questions to consider, avenues for further learning, timeline, and more.
• The Cultures of the Cross and Christ in Art photo galleries
• Architects of the Faith, select bios of people influential to Christianity

Longtime host of the popular British quiz show University Challenge, Bamber Gascoigne studied at Cambridge and earned a Harkness Fellowship at Yale. He has hosted several historical documentaries and written over a dozen books.

Athena is Acorn Media Group’s new home video brand for consumers interested in lifelong learning through documentary programming. Each Athena release provides an authoritative and entertaining learning experience through high quality, informative, non-fiction programming, along with a host of extras to extend the learning experience beyond the screen. Athena’s releases include Playing Shakespeare, The Shape of the World with Patrick Stewart, The Adventure of English, The Genius of Charles Darwin, Ancient Lives, Every Picture Tells a Story, The People’s Republic of Capitalism with Ted Koppel, Brian Sewell’s Grand Tour of Italy, and Edge of Existence. Special web content and clips are available at www.athenalearning.com. Athena’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.