I am another non-Christian who finds Christian history, especially the early church, fascinating -- have you read Christianity: The First 3000 years? It's one of those books that the word "magisterial" is now reserved for and I found it riveting--listened to it on audiobook two times even though it's like 40 hours long. It's just fabulously written and full of interesting details, and written with deep interest and compassion for everyone involved--his whole intellectual project (I've read a few of his books) is to really take seriously the idea that people acted on deep theological beliefs and weren't just responding to more material interests.
I am another non-Christian who finds Christian history, especially the early church, fascinating -- have you read Christianity: The First 3000 years? It's one of those books that the word "magisterial" is now reserved for and I found it riveting--listened to it on audiobook two times even though it's like 40 hours long. It's just fabulously written and full of interesting details, and written with deep interest and compassion for everyone involved--his whole intellectual project (I've read a few of his books) is to really take seriously the idea that people acted on deep theological beliefs and weren't just responding to more material interests.