Title: Impulsore Chresto
First published: 2007
Description: Impulsore Chresto reassesses opposition to Christianity AD 50-250. The Roman authorities' persecutions have caught the attention of both the public, intrigued by martyrs, and scholars, arguing that executions were relatively rare. The latter is not challenged, but the executions are placed in context as the most dramatic aspect of a spectrum of opposition including rumors, polemic, harassment and accusations. Such opposition was taken for granted and rarely described. But studying the preserved texts on trials against Christians it appears that even here the roles of relatives, plaintiffs, spectators or local officials were crucial. There were as many reasons for opposition as opponents, but some motives reappear in clusters: Christians were perceived as superstitious and ungodly, as endangering peace with the gods and social order.
Subjects: Religion, Roman, Church history, Persecution, Christianity and other religions, History, Church history, primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
Places: Rome
Time periods: Early church, ca. 30-600, Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
LC classification: BR128.R7 E65 2007