Pagan Rome and the early Christians

Author(s)

• Benko, Stephen

Bibliographic Information

Pagan Rome and the early Christians

Stephen Benko

（Midland books, MB 385）

Indiana University Press, 1986

1st Midland book ed

• pbk.

Note

Bibliography: p. 164-176

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

As perceived by the average Roman citizen, the early rites and behavior of Christians laid them open to charges of cannibalism, immorality, and the practice of magic and conspiring and fomenting rebellion aganst the state. The early church fathers rejected these accusations and portrayed pagans as victims of misinformation or perpetrators of ill will. Benko proposes to give the pagans the benefit of the doubt and analyzes their charges against Christianity under the premise that they may have been right within the context of the times. He has provided a persuasively argued and refreshing-if controversial-perspective on the confrontation of the pagan and early Christian worlds.

Table of Contents

Preface Abbreviations I. The Names and Its Implications II. Portrait of an Early Christian III. The Charges of Immorality and Cannibalism IV. The Kiss V. Magic and Early Christianity VI. Pagan Criticism of Christian Theology and Ethics Summary Bibliography Index

by "Nielsen BookData"

• NCID: BA0037619X
• ISBN:
  • 0253203856
• LCCN: 83048898
• Country Code: us
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Bloomington
• Pages/Volumes: xi, 180 p.
• Size: 24 cm
• Classification:
  • LCC : BR160.3
  • DC19 : 270.1
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Christianity -- Controversial literature -- History and criticism
  • LCSH : Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
  • LCSH : Rome -- Religion
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BA00376225