Title: The emergence of the Christian religion
First published: 1997
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.
Subjects: Judaism, Relations, Christianity, Church history, Gnosticism, Christianity and other religions, History, 11.51 early Christianity, Interfaith relations, Église, Geschichte, Christianisme, Primitive and early church, Vroege kerk, Judaïsme, Histoire, Post-exilic period (Judaism), Gnosticisme, Frühchristentum, Christianity, early church, ca. 30-600
Time periods: Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600, Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D.
LC classification: BR165 .P37 1997