Becoming Christian - The Conversion of Roman Cappadocia

Informationen zum Autor Raymond Van Dam Klappentext Becoming Christian The Conversion of Roman Cappadocia Raymond Van Dam In a richly textured investigation of the transformation of Cappadocia during the fourth century, Becoming Christian: The Conversion of Roman Cappadocia examines the local impact of Christianity on traditional Greek and Roman society. The Cappadocians Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Eunomius of Cyzicus were influential participants in intense arguments over doctrinal orthodoxy and heresy. In his discussion of these prominent churchmen Raymond Van Dam explores the new options that theological controversies now made available for enhancing personal prestige and acquiring wider reputations throughout the Greek East. Ancient Christianity was more than theology, liturgical practices, moral strictures, or ascetic lifestyles. The coming of Christianity offered families and communities in Cappadocia and Pontus a history built on biblical and ecclesiastical traditions, a history that justified distinctive lifestyles, legitimated the prominence of bishops and clerics, and replaced older myths. Christianity presented a common language of biblical stories and legends about martyrs that allowed educated bishops to communicate with ordinary believers. It provided convincing autobiographies through which people could make sense of the vicissitudes of their lives. The transformation of Roman Cappadocia was a paradigm of the disruptive consequences that accompanied conversion to Christianity in the ancient world. Through vivid accounts of Cappadocians as preachers, theologians, and historians, Becoming Christian highlights the social and cultural repercussions of the formation of new orthodoxies in theology, history, language, and personal identity. Raymond Van Dam is Professor of History at the University of Michigan and author of the companion volumes and , both also available from the University of Pennsylvania Press. 2003 | 264 pages | 6 x 9 ISBN 978-0-8122-3738-2 | Cloth | $59.95s | £39.00 World Rights | Classics, Religion Short copy: Raymond Van Dam investigates the transformation of Cappadocia, a Roman province in central Asia Minor, into a Christian society. Through vivid accounts of Cappadocians as preachers, theologians, and historians, Becoming Christian highlights the disruptive social and cultural consequences of the formation of new orthodoxies in theology, history, language, and personal identity in the ancient world. Zusammenfassung Investigates the transformation of Cappadocia into a Christian society. Through vivid accounts of Cappadocians as preachers, theologians and historians, this work highlights the disruptive social and cultural consequences of the formation of orthodoxies in theology, history, language, and personal identity in the ancient world. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface Introduction ORTHODOXY AND HERESY 1. "The Evil in Our Bosom": Eunomius as a Cappadocian Father CONVERSION 2. "Even Though Roman Laws Judge Differently": Christianity and Local Traditions 3. Remembering the Future: Christian Narratives of Conversion 4. "Everything in Ruins": Ancient Legends and Foundation Myths 5. The Founder of the Cappadocians PREACHERS AND AUDIENCES 6. Listening to the Audience: The Six Days of Creation 7. Small Details: The Cult of the Forty Martyrs THE LIFE TO COME 8. "I Saw a Parrot": Philostorgius at Constantinople 9. A Blank Sheet of Paper: The Apocryphal Basil 10. "Trail of Sorrows": The Autobiographies of Gregory of Nazianzus Epilogue: A Different Late Antiquity Abbreviations Notes Editions and Translations 1. The Cappadocian Fathers 2. Ancient Authors and Texts Bibliography ...

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Raymond van Dam, Raymond Van Dam, Raymond (Professor of Roman History Van Dam, VAN DAM RAYMOND PROFESSOR OF ROM
• Editore: University of pennsylvania pr
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Copertina rigida
• Pubblicazione: 21.07.2003
• EAN: 9780812237382
• ISBN: 978-0-8122-3738-2
• Pagine: 264
• Categorie: Narrativa > Romanzi; Scienze umane, arte, musica > Storia > Antichità