Coming Out Christian in the Roman World

How the Followers of Jesus Made a Place in Caesar’s Empire

Nonfiction, History, Ancient History, Rome, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Church, Church History
Cover of the book Coming Out Christian in the Roman World by Douglas Ryan Boin, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Douglas Ryan Boin ISBN: 9781620403181
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: March 3, 2015
Imprint: Bloomsbury Press Language: English
Author: Douglas Ryan Boin
ISBN: 9781620403181
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: March 3, 2015
Imprint: Bloomsbury Press
Language: English

The supposed collapse of Roman civilization is still lamented more than 1,500 years later-and intertwined with this idea is the notion that a fledgling religion, Christianity, went from a persecuted fringe movement to an irresistible force that toppled the empire. The “intolerant zeal” of Christians, wrote Edward Gibbon, swept Rome's old gods away, and with them the structures that sustained Roman society.

Not so, argues Douglas Boin. Such tales are simply untrue to history, and ignore the most important fact of all: life in Rome never came to a dramatic stop. Instead, as Boin shows, a small minority movement rose to transform society-politically, religiously, and culturally-but it was a gradual process, one that happened in fits and starts over centuries. Drawing upon a decade of recent studies in history and archaeology, and on his own research, Boin opens up a wholly new window onto a period we thought we knew. His work is the first to describe how Christians navigated the complex world of social identity in terms of “passing” and “coming out.” Many Christians lived in a dynamic middle ground. Their quiet success, as much as the clamor of martyrdom, was a powerful agent for change. With this insightful approach to the story of Christians in the Roman world, Douglas Boin rewrites, and rediscovers, the fascinating early history of a world faith.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The supposed collapse of Roman civilization is still lamented more than 1,500 years later-and intertwined with this idea is the notion that a fledgling religion, Christianity, went from a persecuted fringe movement to an irresistible force that toppled the empire. The “intolerant zeal” of Christians, wrote Edward Gibbon, swept Rome's old gods away, and with them the structures that sustained Roman society.

Not so, argues Douglas Boin. Such tales are simply untrue to history, and ignore the most important fact of all: life in Rome never came to a dramatic stop. Instead, as Boin shows, a small minority movement rose to transform society-politically, religiously, and culturally-but it was a gradual process, one that happened in fits and starts over centuries. Drawing upon a decade of recent studies in history and archaeology, and on his own research, Boin opens up a wholly new window onto a period we thought we knew. His work is the first to describe how Christians navigated the complex world of social identity in terms of “passing” and “coming out.” Many Christians lived in a dynamic middle ground. Their quiet success, as much as the clamor of martyrdom, was a powerful agent for change. With this insightful approach to the story of Christians in the Roman world, Douglas Boin rewrites, and rediscovers, the fascinating early history of a world faith.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book Psycho in the Shower by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Gotham Writers' Workshop: Writing Fiction by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Haunted Data by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book War in Japan 1467–1615 by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Stravaganza: City of Secrets by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Critical Approaches to the Production of Music and Sound by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Life Writing by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Modelling Fallschirmjäger Figures by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Private Law in the 21st Century by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book The Autonomy of Labour Law by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Before We Met by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Pet This Book by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Sanctions Law by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Phenomenology and Virtue Ethics by Douglas Ryan Boin
Cover of the book Army of the Night by Douglas Ryan Boin
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy