*Rome’s Age of Revolution*
The author is Tim Whitmarsh and the subtitle is Augustus, Empire and the Making of Christianity. This is the most important book on the history of Christianity I have read in a long time, and it is also an important work in Roman history. Yet also fun and extremely readable. Excerpt: The story I have […] The post *Rome’s Age of Revolution* appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION .
Tim Whitmarsh's "Rome’s Age of Revolution" delves into the profound impact of Augustus' political reforms on the emergence of Christianity. The author emphasizes that the common misconception of Christianity being in constant conflict with the Roman state is a myth, born from antiquity and perpetuated by popular culture since the 19th century. This narrative, while emotionally captivating and ideologically potent, fails to accurately represent the reality of the era.
Whitmarsh argues that most Christians seamlessly integrated into Roman society, facing no greater persecution than others. Instead, he posits that Christianity's development was revolutionary due to Augustus' political changes, which transformed Mediterranean thought. The most significant effect of Augustus' revolution was the birth of Christianity - a Judaean sect that swiftly adapted to the new political environment, rapidly reshaping its beliefs for broader appeal.
The book is highly recommended, not just for Christians and Romans, but for anyone interested in Roman history.
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