This book is different as it begins with the Ancient religions that
influenced both Judaism and Christianity, the early beginnings of 'sin',
'the devil', "redemption" and "salvation". Unknown to most Christians,
Jesus was an obscure teacher until more radical Jews began a rebellion
against the Parent faith which they viewed as a failure, wanting a
separation from it around 80-90 AD. Oddly, Jesus never came to start a
new religion called "Christianity" as he was a Jew. It was the fanatical
followers, picking up Gnosticism and renouncing "the world" that early
Christian's became socially reviled and hated by everyone within Roman
society. However within the Roman Empire, the Jews gradually lost favor
while the new Christian groups, growing at 3% a year, became more and
more socially acceptable as its religion was inclusive--unlike Judaism.
Finally in the early 4th c. Emperor Constantine outlawed the persecution
of Christians under religious tolerance and it became a state religion
around 380 AD.
Description:
This book is different as it begins with the Ancient religions that influenced both Judaism and Christianity, the early beginnings of 'sin', 'the devil', "redemption" and "salvation". Unknown to most Christians, Jesus was an obscure teacher until more radical Jews began a rebellion against the Parent faith which they viewed as a failure, wanting a separation from it around 80-90 AD. Oddly, Jesus never came to start a new religion called "Christianity" as he was a Jew. It was the fanatical followers, picking up Gnosticism and renouncing "the world" that early Christian's became socially reviled and hated by everyone within Roman society. However within the Roman Empire, the Jews gradually lost favor while the new Christian groups, growing at 3% a year, became more and more socially acceptable as its religion was inclusive--unlike Judaism. Finally in the early 4th c. Emperor Constantine outlawed the persecution of Christians under religious tolerance and it became a state religion around 380 AD.