This series is designed to study problems in preference to periods. Each volume will contain sections dealing with historiography, documents, and a consideration of the wider issues, although the balance between the three will vary in each case. This approach encourages the student to deal in his own way with the problems raised by historical documents and the historiography of the issues in question and he is made aware of the wider perspectives of history.
This small book, the last work of a world-renowned scholar, has established itself as a classic. It provides a superb overview of the vast historical process by which Christianity was Hellenized and Hellenic civilization became Christianized. Werner Jaeger shows that without the large postclassical expansion of Greek culture the rise of a Christian world religion would have been impossible. He explains why the Hellenization of Christianity was necessary in apostolic and postapostalic times; points out similarities between Greek philosophy and Christian belief; discuss such key figures as Clement, Origen, and Gregory of Nyssa; and touches on the controversies that led to the ultimate complex synthesis of Greek and Christian thought.
Simone Weil (1909–1943) is one of the most brilliant and unorthodox religious and philosophical minds of the twentieth century. She was also a political activist, worked in the Renault car factory in France in the 1930s and fought briefly as an anarchist in the Spanish Civil War, before her tragic early death in England at the age of thirty-four. Her work spans an astonishing variety of subjects, from ancient Greek philosophy and Christianity to oppression, political freedom and French national identity. Intimations of Christianity Among the Ancient Greeks sees Weil apply her unique and piercing intellect to early Greek thought, where she finds fundamental precursors to Christian religious ideas. She argues, provocatively, that concepts fundamental to Christianity such as incarnation, redemption, suffering and resurrection are Greek as well as Christian and that there is much we can learn, spiritually and philosophically, from their entwinement. This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Foreword by Christopher Hamilton.
Explore the Impact of Greek Ideas on the Christian Church with Edwin Hatch Dive into the fascinating intersection of Greek philosophy and Christian theology with Edwin Hatch's seminal work, "The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church." This enlightening book sheds light on how ancient Greek thought shaped the development of early Christianity, offering valuable insights into the intellectual and cultural exchanges that occurred during this pivotal period in history. Tracing the Origins of Christian Doctrine Hatch meticulously examines the ways in which Greek philosophical concepts, such as Platonic idealism and Stoic ethics, influenced the formation of Christian doctrine. From discussions on the nature of God to debates about the soul and the afterlife, readers will gain a deeper understanding of how early Christian thinkers grappled with and incorporated Greek ideas into their theological frameworks. Through engaging analysis and compelling historical evidence, Hatch illuminates the complex interplay between Greek and Christian thought, highlighting the ways in which ancient philosophies provided a fertile ground for the growth and development of Christian theology. Unraveling Intellectual and Cultural Exchanges Delve into the intellectual milieu of the ancient world as Hatch explores the vibrant exchange of ideas between Greek philosophers and early Christian theologians. Drawing upon a wealth of primary sources and scholarly research, he uncovers the intricate connections and dialogues that took place across philosophical and religious traditions. From Alexandria to Athens, from the halls of the Academy to the corridors of early Christian communities, "The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church" traces the contours of a dynamic intellectual landscape shaped by diverse cultural influences and philosophical discourses. Why "The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church" Is Essential Reading: Historical Insight: Gain valuable insight into the intellectual and cultural exchanges that shaped the development of early Christianity. Philosophical Foundations: Explore the philosophical underpinnings of Christian doctrine and theology, tracing their origins to ancient Greek thought. Interdisciplinary Analysis: Experience the intersection of philosophy, theology, and history as Hatch navigates the complex terrain of ancient intellectual history.Embark on a thought-provoking journey through the intellectual currents of the ancient world with "The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church." Whether you're a scholar, a student, or a curious reader, this book offers valuable insights into the enduring legacy of Greek philosophy on Christian thought and practice.
To the second edition-which will certainly be called for-of his translation of Kalthoff's "Rise of Christianity," Mr. McCabe should add a page of introduction. Here and there the author appears to assume that his readers are acquainted with certain communistic ideas which he has expressed in previous works ; and as one of the leading ideas of the present work is that the Christian Church is and has always been in principle a communistic body, a hint or two as to the author's special standpoint, as disclosed in his previous works, would be welcome to the average English reader. The author approaches his subject from the sociological point of view, and consequently sees no need for a personal founder of Christianity. Such a founder "ceases to be necessary for understanding Christianity in proportion as we recognise in it a great historical development of the whole spiritual life-the social and economic, religious and moral, artistic and scientific life-of the race." The single individual as founder comes under consideration only "in so far as the active forces of his age are embodied in him," and historical science still has "the task of gathering the ideas of the master from the context of his age." In three interesting chapters, the author studies the preparation for Christianity in the Roman Empire, in Greek philosophy, and in Judaism. He finds much of the social and political atmosphere of the Synoptical Gospels rather in Rome than in Jerusalem-for example, the tax-gatherers, the debtor who lies in jail until he pays the last farthing, the higher slave set over others by his master, etc. As to Greek philosophy, it was this that developed the theological and ethical consequences of monotheism, and thus "led directly to the dogmatic and ethic of the Church." "The platonic duplication of the World makes it needful to find some mediator between the supramundane God and the material world." Moreover, the Stoic philosophy re-appears in the Christian system. Zeno contemplated a great social world-state, "in which all men are united in an ideal community by the natural law of reason." Judaism supplied the Messianic doctrine. "Messiahism is the very soul of the religious history of Israel. Its roots go back into prehistoric times," etc. It culminates in the Jewish apocalyptic literature. "The connecting link between this apocalyptic other-worldliness, and reality, is communism, which forms the economic background of the Apocalypse." Perhaps the most interesting chapter in the book is that on "The Communistic Clubs," in which the religious associations that formed so important a feature in Greek and Roman life are regarded as the origines of the Christian communities. We have not space to follow our author through his chapters on the Christian Community, the Christian Church, and the Future of Christianity, except to note that the conclusion he arrives at is, that "the future of Christianity depends on whether the way is left open for its natural development, for its Christ to grow with our ever-deepening and broadening life." --The Westminster Review, Volume 168
This "fresh, blunt, and highly persuasive account of how the West was won—for Jesus" (Newsweek) is now available in paperback. Stark's provocative report challenges conventional wisdom and finds that Christianity's astounding dominance of the Western world arose from its offer of a better, more secure way of life. "Compelling reading" (Library Journal) that is sure to "generate spirited argument" (Publishers Weekly), this account of Christianity's remarkable growth within the Roman Empire is the subject of much fanfare. "Anyone who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to dominance...must read it." says Yale University's Wayne A. Meeks, for The Rise of Christianity makes a compelling case for startling conclusions. Combining his expertise in social science with historical evidence, and his insight into contemporary religion's appeal, Stark finds that early Christianity attracted the privileged rather than the poor, that most early converts were women or marginalized Jews—and ultimately "that Christianity was a success because it proved those who joined it with a more appealing, more assuring, happier, and perhaps longer life" (Andrew M. Greeley, University of Chicago).
Greek philosophy had formed the minds of the educated classes of the Roman Empire for centuries before the early Christians set out to spread their message there. If they wished to gain a hearing, therefore, the language of Greek philosophy was the language they had to speak. This venture was to have a long history and an enduring effect both upon Christianity itself and on the world that it was seeking to convince and convert.
