Robert L. Wilken
This book offers an engrossing portrayal of the early years of the Christian movement from the perspective of the Romans.,Acknowledgments,Introduction,Abbreviations,Pliny: a Roman gentleman. The making of a Roman official; Travels of a provincial governor; A Christian association; Offerings of wine & incense,Christianity as a burial society. Church or political club?; A sense of belonging; A Bacchic society; An obscure & secret association,The piety of the persecutors. Roman religion & Christian prejudice; The practice of religion; "We too are a religious people",Galen: the curiosity of a philosopher. Philosophy & medicine; Christianity as a philosophical school; The practice of philosophy; The arbitrary god of the Christians,Celsus: a conservative intellectual. Begging priests of Cybele & soothsayers; The deficiencies of Christian doctrine; Demythologizing the story of Jesus; An apostasy from Judaism; Religion & the social order,Porphyry: the most learned critic of all. In defense of Plato; The Jewish scriptures; The Christian New Testament; Philosophy from oracles; The religion of the emperor; Jesus not a magician; An unreasoning faith,Julian the Apostate: Jewish law & Christian truth. The emperor's piety; Greek education & Christian values; Against the Galilaeans; The tribal god of Jews & Christians; An apostasy from Judaism,Epilogue,Suggestions for Further Reader,Index
History,Religion,Religion,Christianity,Nonfiction,Church,Church History,Christian,History,Ancient History,Literature,Ancient,Religion,Theology,Roman
The Christians as the Romans Saw Them