The Second Church: Popular Christianity A.D. 200-400 (Writings from the Greco-Roman World Supplement) by Ramsay MacMullen (PDF)

Description

Christianity in the century both before and after Constantine s conversion is familiar thanks to the written sources; now Ramsay MacMullen, in his fifth book on ancient Christianity, considers especially the unwritten evidence. He uses excavation reports about hundreds of churches of the fourth century to show what worshipers did in them and in the cemeteries where most of them were built. What emerges, in this richly illustrated work, is a religion that ordinary Christians, by far the majority, practiced in a different and largely forgotten second church. The picture fits with textual evidence that has been often misunderstood or little noticed. The first church the familiar one governed by bishops in part condemned, in part tolerated, and in part re-shaped the church of the many. Even together, however, the two constituted by the end of the period studied (AD 400) a total of the population far smaller than has ever been suggested. Better estimates are now made for the first time from quantifiable data, that is, from the physical space available for attendance in places of worship. Reassessment raises very large questions about the place of religion in the life of the times and in the social composition of both churches.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Ramsay MacMullen is Dunham Professor Emeritus of History and Classics at Yale University. He is the recipient of a lifetime Award for Scholarly Distinction from the American Historical Association and the author of numerous volumes on Christianity and the Roman Empire.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This is an interesting book about an era obscured in mystery. I have always been curious about the deviation from the teachings of Christ during this era that led to the unbiblical dogma, hierarchies and rituals that have dominated christianity ever since.

⭐Christianity during its transition around Constantine’s time had prominent spokesmen (bishops and other literate apologists) whose words have survived. Yet the life of most “Christians” — whatever the term meant to them as individuals — transformed gradually and must be reconstructed. Social habits that preceded “conversion” — whatever THAT term meant to them as individuals — persisted in new settings, often disapproved of, if tolerated, by the hierarchy. The First Church was a club of prosperous elites. “As our slaves prepare the table for a feast, so we are preparing the Way,” one sermon advises. (My paraphrase.) The Second Church was everyone else. “The 99%” as MacMullen describes it, relating to the present persuasively and entertainingly. I’m simplifying. He makes it clear that there were shades between. For example you didn’t have to be rich to own a slave or even several. But social stratification was the status quo then as now. It’s an informative pleasure to hunt with MacMullen for the signs of how these ordinary people lived. In a sense they drifted with, but in a sense they were themselves, the tides of history.

⭐This was supposed to be required textbook for class on Early Christianity. It has lot’s of pictures. I found that in some of my travels there were pictures of what I saw only this time it was very meaningful and understandable. Any one interested in what the first church looked like should definitely get this book. Also, it is written by Ramsey MacMullen, who is excellent ad goes with his “Christianizing the Roma Empire AD 100-400.

⭐The number of christians in late antiwuity is calculated by using the space in churches and cemeneries. The number is astonishing low. The book har an new angle on the discussion about data for chrstian population. ,It stresses the fact, that our knowledge of antiquity is based on selected papers, written by ca.5& of the population for the elite. If we shall know anything about ordinary people, it is nesseray to use inscriptions and archaeological matarial.

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