Galen's observations reflect one of the distinctive features of early Christianity. Roman-era religion was mainly about ritual actions vis-à-vis the gods, and there was little to do with ordering behavior otherwise. — Larry Hurtado Copy Share Image
Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions of the time, and then accidentally encountered a man… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
In the Marquette Lecture volume, I focus on the question in the title. I emphasize the social and political costs of being a Christian… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
I think that Rodney Stark studies of new religious movements in the modern world give us some insights into the kinds of questions that… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
Justin Martyr says that he was impressed in his study of the Old Testament, at the seriousness and contents of these writings, and became… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
Early Christianity, like Roman-era philosophical traditions, laid emphasis on everyday behavior, about how to live your life. — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
Studies of the people named and described in earliest Christian texts show that, right from the earliest years, they included craftsmen, merchants, and owners… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
"Religions" of the Roman world varied. Most of it was ritual practices. There were periodic occasions when cities honored their guardian deities with sacrifices… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
Galen recognized, with some considerable puzzlement it seems, that Christians exhibited the virtues that he associated with the discipline of philosophy. — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
I think that Rodney Stark puts his foot wrong on some things where he simply wasn't sufficiently current on scholarly developments. — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
In its Roman-era setting, for example, Christianity was so different that critics of the time referred to it as a "superstition" (meaning a bogus… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
In Destroyer of the gods I focus on several major features of early Christianity that made it distinctive, even odd or bizarre .We don't… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
Galen's observations reflect one of the distinctive features of early Christianity. Roman-era religion was mainly about ritual actions vis-à-vis the gods, and there was… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
[Christians] practiced moderation and chastity in marriage, for example, and Galen was puzzled at how they were able to do so. His comments are… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
I offer early Christianity as a case-study to show that the phenomena that we group under "religion(s)" comprise a somewhat artificial category, and that… — Larry Hurtado Copy Share
