The emergence of the Christian religion
Subtitle: essays on early Christianity
By: Birger A. Pearson.
Publisher: Trinity Press International
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Harrisburg, Pa
Language: eng
Number of pages: 241
Subjects: Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600; Christianity and other religions -- Judaism; Judaism -- Relations -- Christianity; Gnosticism; Judaism -- History -- Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D
Description: In this book, Birger Pearson argues for the study of Christianity as "one of the religions of the world." He proposes that the study of the New Testament and other early Christian literature be moved out of the realm of theology and into the area of comparative research in religion.

The book therefore addresses the problematic of Christian origins, that is, the historical process by which a new religion, Christianity, emerges out of an older one, Second Temple Judaism. Included are studies ranging from the prehistory of Christianity (Jesus, together with an illuminating lengthy and detailed critical analysis of the work of the Jesus Seminar and the trends in current North American gospel research it reflects) into the New Testament and up to the fourth century.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and indexes.