All’origine della pretesa cristiana is the second volume of the trilogy Il PerCorso, first published by Jaca Book (1986-1992) and subsequently in its definitive form by Rizzoli (1997-2003). It consists of a course of lectures organized in three books: in addition to the volume in question, the others are Il senso religioso e Perché la Chiesa.

The book develops and explores certain themes which the author had briefly referred to in the first publications in the volume Il senso religioso (GIAC, 1957, in the chapters “L’iniziativa divina” and “Dio con noi”, pp. 15-21; Jaca Book 1966, “Parte terza. Rivelazione”, pp. 53-74; reissued 1977, pp. 57-80).

In 1994 Jaca Book republished the text in the first of the two volumes containing writings by Father Giussani published under its imprint (Opere 1966-1992. Vol. 1. Il PerCorso, pp. 187-328).