| Why Christianity Happened: A Sociohistorical Account of Christian Origins (26-50 CE) Contributor(s): Crossley, James G. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0664230946 ISBN-13: 9780664230944 Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press OUR PRICE: $41.40 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: November 2006 Annotation: Looking beyond theological narratives and offering a sociological, economic, and historical examination of the spread of earliest Christianity, James Crossley presents a thoroughly secular and causal explanation for why the once law-observant movement within Judaism became the beginnings of a new religion. First analyzing the historiography of the New Testament and stressing the problematic omission of a social scientific account, Crossley applies a socioeconomic lens to the rise of the Jesus movement and the centrality of sinners to his mission. Using macrosociological approaches, he explains how Jesus? Jewish teachings sparked the shift toward a gentile religion and an international monotheistic trend. Finally, using approaches from conversion studies, he provides a sociohistorical explanation for the rise of the Pauline mission. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Christianity - History - History | Ancient - General - Religion | Christian Church - History |
| Dewey: 270 |
| LCCN: 2006042171 |
| Physical Information: 0.67" H x 6" W x 8.98" (0.83 lbs) 248 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Ancient (To 499 A.D.) - Religious Orientation - Christian - Theometrics - Mainline |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Looking beyond theological narratives and offering a sociological, economic, and historical examination of the spread of earliest Christianity, James Crossley presents a thoroughly secular and causal explanation for why the once law-observant movement within Judaism became the beginnings of a new religion. First analyzing the historiography of the New Testament and stressing the problematic omission of a social scientific account, Crossley applies a socioeconomic lens to the rise of the Jesus movement and the centrality of sinners to his mission. Using macrosociological approaches, he explains how Jesus' Jewish teachings sparked the shift toward a gentile religion and an international monotheistic trend. Finally, using approaches from conversion studies, he provides a sociohistorical explanation for the rise of the Pauline mission. |
Contributor Bio(s): Crossley, James G.: - James G. Crossley lectures in the Department of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield. His publications include The Date of Mark's Gospel: Insight from the Law in Earliest Christianity and Writing History, Constructing Religion. |