--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I offer early Christianity as a…" description: "\"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 th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/larry-hurtado-31747_artificial_i-offer-early-christianity-as-a-case-stu_3071452.jpg" --- # I offer early Christianity as a case-study to show that… ![“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 "religions" are not "all the same."” quote by Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/larry-hurtado-31747_artificial_i-offer-early-christianity-as-a-case-stu_3071452.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/larry-hurtado-31747_artificial_i-offer-early-christianity-as-a-case-stu_3071452.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/larry-hurtado-31747_artificial_i-offer-early-christianity-as-a-case-stu_3071452.jpg) > “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 "religions" are not "all the same."” [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion is a diverse set of practices, not a single uniform phenomenon. **In simple terms:** Religions differ widely, not all the same. Key Takeaway Recognize religious diversity in study. Themes religion diversity categorization Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - academic curricula - policy making Key Concepts theology cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - How can we respect differences? - What risks arise from overgeneralization? A Different Perspective Broad categories can obscure unique traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Case studies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/case-studies/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“...to be Catholic was to belong to an ethnic group, not a religion. You didn’t really have to believe it, or act like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-bauer/to-be-catholic-was-to-belong-to-an-ethnic-group-not-a-religion-you/) [Carlene Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-bauer/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/galen-s-observations-reflect-one-of-the-distinctive-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-destroyer-of-the-gods-i-focus-on-several-major-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-rodney-stark-makes-a-substantial-contribution-to-the-study-of/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think that Rodney Stark studies of new religious movements in the modern world give us some insights into the kinds of questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-studies-of-new-religious-movements-in-the/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Early Christianity, like Roman-era philosophical traditions, laid emphasis on everyday behavior, about how to live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/early-christianity-like-roman-era-philosophical-traditions-laid/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [The science, the art, the jurisprudence, the chief political and social theories, of the modern world have grown out of Greece and Rome-not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-science-the-art-the-jurisprudence-the-chief-political-and-social/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In a seminar at New York University in 1980, Foucault is reported to have said that the difference between late antiquity and early Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-critchley/in-a-seminar-at-new-york-university-in-1980-foucault-is-reported-to/) [Simon Critchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-critchley/) > [Rediscovering the controversies that occupied early Christianity sharpens our awareness of the major issue in the whole debate, then and now: What is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/rediscovering-the-controversies-that-occupied-early-christianity/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [For decades, I thought that scientific truth, solid economic case studies, and common sense were enough to bring about change on the environmental front.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leonard/for-decades-i-thought-that-scientific-truth-solid-economic-case/) [Annie Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leonard/) > [My own career is a case study for what I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/my-own-career-is-a-case-study-for-what-i-believe-in/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Rare is the book that can actually transform us into better, more fulfilled people. Having combed through the research and documented case studies all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-curry/rare-is-the-book-that-can-actually-transform-us-into-better-more/) [Ann Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-curry/) > [When I first began examining the global-warming scare, I found nothing more puzzling than the way officially approved scientists kept on being shown to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-booker/when-i-first-began-examining-the-global-warming-scare-i-found-nothing/) [Christopher Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-booker/) > [By the time there is a case study about your industry, you are already too late...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/by-the-time-there-is-a-case-study-about-your-industry-you-are-already/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I read true crime books, and I read when people do case studies of stuff. I'm into books like that. Case studies or forensics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-araya/i-read-true-crime-books-and-i-read-when-people-do-case-studies-of/) [Tom Araya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-araya/) ## More by Larry Hurtado > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-christian-is-that-he-had-been/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [In the Marquette Lecture volume, I focus on the question in the title. I emphasize the social and political costs of being a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-the-marquette-lecture-volume-i-focus-on-the-question-in-the-title/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think that Rodney Stark studies of new religious movements in the modern world give us some insights into the kinds of questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-studies-of-new-religious-movements-in-the/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Justin Martyr says that he was impressed in his study of the Old Testament, at the seriousness and contents of these writings, and became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-martyr-says-that-he-was-impressed-in-his-study-of-the-old/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Early Christianity, like Roman-era philosophical traditions, laid emphasis on everyday behavior, about how to live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/early-christianity-like-roman-era-philosophical-traditions-laid/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Studies of the people named and described in earliest Christian texts show that, right from the earliest years, they included craftsmen, merchants, and owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/studies-of-the-people-named-and-described-in-earliest-christian-texts/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > ["Religions" of the Roman world varied. Most of it was ritual practices. There were periodic occasions when cities honored their guardian deities with sacrifices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/religions-of-the-roman-world-varied-most-of-it-was-ritual-practices/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Galen recognized, with some considerable puzzlement it seems, that Christians exhibited the virtues that he associated with the discipline of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/galen-recognized-with-some-considerable-puzzlement-it-seems-that/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think that Rodney Stark puts his foot wrong on some things where he simply wasn't sufficiently current on scholarly developments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-puts-his-foot-wrong-on-some-things-where-he/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-its-roman-era-setting-for-example-christianity-was-so-different/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-rodney-stark-makes-a-substantial-contribution-to-the-study-of/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-destroyer-of-the-gods-i-focus-on-several-major-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/galen-s-observations-reflect-one-of-the-distinctive-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [ \[Christians\] practiced moderation and chastity in marriage, for example, and Galen was puzzled at how they were able to do so. His comments are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/christians-practiced-moderation-and-chastity-in-marriage-for-example/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [ Some modern scholars contend that in terms of what "religion" was in that \[Roman-era setting\], you can't even call Christianity a religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/some-modern-scholars-contend-that-in-terms-of-what-religion-was-in/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) [Explore all 16 Larry Hurtado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) ## More Artificial quotes > [One of our big goals in search is to make search that really understands exactly what you want, understands everything in the world. 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I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-we-should-be-very-careful-about-artificial-intelligence-if-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/inflation-is-not-caused-by-the-actions-of-private-citizens-but-by-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Perspective, as its inventor remarked, is a beautiful thing. 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