Christianizing the Roman Empire: (A.D. 100-400), Parts 100-400How did the early Christian church manage to win its dominant place in the Roman world? In his newest book, an eminent historian of ancient Rome examines this question from a secular--rather than an ecclesiastical--viewpoint. MacMullen's provocative conclusion is that mass conversions to Christianity were based more on the appeal of miracle or the opportunity for worldly advantages than simply on a "rising tide of Christian piety." "Provocative to the Christian religious scholar and the nonreligious historian alike. . . . MacMullen's style is lucid, and the story of a period with its own innate interest is narrated with compelling feeling. . . . It is an important book, and highly recommended for the general reader of history as well as the Christian who wonders how the 'Jesus movement' came, by Constantine's time, to be the church we know--Choice "Written in a fresh and vigorous style, . . . [this book] offers an admirable survey of some major aspects of the history [of the early Christian church]."--Robert M. Grant, New York Times Book Review "Gently provocative. . . . MacMullen has written an instructive and enjoyable book on a great theme."--Henry Chadwick, Times Literary Supplement "A carefully argued and well-written study."--Jackson P. Hershbell, Library Journal |
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Christianizing the Roman Empire: (A.D. 100-400), Parts 100-400 Ramsay MacMullen Limited preview - 1984 |
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4th century Aelius Aristides Alexandria Allat Ambrose ancient Antioch Apol attested Augustine Bardy belief bishop called Carthage Cels Celsus chap Chris Christian Christian and non-Christian Chrysos church cited congregation Constantine conversion Council of Elvira crowds CSEL daimones death deity demons described divine Donatists earlier Egypt emperor empire Eunap Euseb Eusebius evidence example exorcisms faith fourth century gods Greek Greg Gregory Harnack healing holy ibid idols imperial inscription Jesus John Chrysostom Julian later Lepelley Liban Libanius Lucian MacMullen 1981 magister militum martyrs Milan miracles non-Chris non-Christian cults offered Origen pagan passages passim perhaps period persecutions persons population Porphyry preaching priests provinces quoted religion religious reported Roman Rome Saint scenes seen Sermo shrines sort sources suppose Syria Tatian temples Tertullian Theodoret Theodosius thought tian tion views Vita Const words worship