New Religion—New Communities? Christianity and Social Relations in Late Antiquity and Beyond
New Religion—New Communities? Christianity and Social Relations in Late Antiquity and Beyond
Author(s): Claudia RappSubject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History, Cultural history, History of Church(es), Essay|Book Review |Scientific Life, History of ideas, Middle Ages, Theology and Religion, 6th to 12th Centuries, Cultural Essay, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Herlo Verlag UG
Keywords: Christianity; Late Antiquity; law; social relations; concepts of society; baptism; ritual brotherhood (adelphopoiesis); Peter R. L. Brown;
Summary/Abstract: This article takes a fresh look at the oft-repeated claim that the novel character of Christianity caused major changes in Late Roman society. It follows current scholarship in emphasizing that change was gradual until a ‘totally Christian society’ (Peter Brown) was achieved by the early Middle Ages and draws attention to two social relationships that have no precedent in previous times: baptismal sponsorship and ritual brotherhood.
Journal: Études byzantines et post-byzantines
- Issue Year: 1/2019
- Issue No: VIII
- Page Range: 29-44
- Page Count: 16
- Language: English
