Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Christian Story of Jesus's Birth Is a Myth Born o f Politics
To me one of the most interesting aspects of the history of Christianity, was how a religion that for many years was regarded by the Roman establishment as a politically subversive cult was eventually embraced by that establishment and became the official religion of the Empire. As the article noted, the early Christians gave to Jesus many titles which were also born by the Roman emperors. The Roman Senate had given Octavius, among his many titles, the title of Price of Peace, presumably, because he reestablished peace and order in the Empire after the outbreak of civil war that had followed his uncle's assassination. Most of the other titles, like Savior of the World, were likewise titles of the emperors. So to the Roman establishment, it seemed clear that the Christian sect was attempting to elevate their crucified leader above the emperors. Obviously, a sign of subversion in the eyes of the establishment. Jim F. -- Original Message -- From: CeJ jann...@gmail.com To: marxism-thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu Subject: Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Christian Story of Jesus's Birth Is a Myth Born of Politics Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 15:09:50 +0900 Christian Story of Jesus's Birth Is a Myth Born of Politics http://lists.econ.utah.edu/pipermail/marxism-thaxis/2010-January/024987.html Nutrition Improve your career health. Click now to study nutrition! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=OlX_CjXRTzSrHfXYv0MU3AAAJ1AP8ttsZd_TbiVxkZxsC3mBAAYAAADNAAASQwA= ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Christian Story of Jesus's Birth Is a Myth Born o f Politics
On 1/6/10, farmela...@juno.com farmela...@juno.com wrote: To me one of the most interesting aspects of the history of Christianity, was how a religion that for many years was regarded by the Roman establishment as a politically subversive cult was eventually embraced by that establishment and became the official religion of the Empire. As the article noted, the early Christians gave to Jesus many titles which were also born by the Roman emperors. The Roman Senate had given Octavius, among his many titles, the title of Price of Peace, presumably, because he reestablished peace and order in the Empire after the outbreak of civil war that had followed his uncle's assassination. Most of the other titles, like Savior of the World, were likewise titles of the emperors. So to the Roman establishment, it seemed clear that the Christian sect was attempting to elevate their crucified leader above the emperors. Obviously, a sign of subversion in the eyes of the establishment. Jim F. ^ CB: Octavius-Augustus, like Jesus, also named himself (a) God. Divi Augustus is in the title Res Gestae Divi Augustus ( Things Accomplished by the Divine Augustus). Our month of August is also named after Caesar Augustus. July is named after Julius Caesar. ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Christian Story of Jesus's Birth Is a Myth Born o f Politics
I think you are referring to Nestorian Christianity. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestorianism) It was declared heretical by both the Western and Eastern churches, but it enjoyed official support in Syria and Persia, and its missionaries were active throughout the Middle East and even the Far East (i.e. India, China). That's probably the type of Christianity that was familiar to Mohammed and many of the Nestorian communities in the Middle East were probably absorbed into Islam later on. The issue of the nature or the natures of Jesus was a highly politicized issue as exemplified by the convening of the Council of Nicea by the Emperor Constantine, who at the time, was not even officially a baptized Christian. But by then, Constantine had thrown his political lot in with the Christians and he realized that if that religion was to become the official religion of the Empire, its basic doctrines had to be sorted out. A basic issue like the issue of the nature of Christ was one that was seen as being fraught with all sorts of political implications which both spiritual and temporal authorities had to wade through very carefully. Jim F. -- Original Message -- From: CeJ jann...@gmail.com To: marxism-thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu Subject: Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Christian Story of Jesus's Birth Is a Myth Born of Politics Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 15:09:50 +0900 One tension that was always there was the nature of Jesus Christ. For some, he was God's gift, a prophet, a messiah, a teacher (rabbi), but not a god nor God. For all the success Christianity then enjoyed, one large dichotomy was between 'trinitarians' and 'non-trinitarians', although this doesn't seem to have been a clear dichotomy in the religion's first century, but later. At any rate, those who could not accept JC as a god, or were born into those traditions, participated in a type of Christianity that co-existed and often largely assimilated to Islam. Jews and Samaritans who could not accept him as a messiah might well have ended up in Palestinian and Mesopotamian forms of Rabbinical Talmudic Judaism. (However, Rabbinical Judaism has periodically been open to other messiahs as well). If you look at how Islam portrays Jesus Christ (and Mary) in their texts and oral traditions you might get a stronger sense of how he was variously perceived in the now remote late classical, early middle ages. You will also note how various forms of 'Abrahamic' religions that the post-mo minds think of as 'ancient' or 'classical' were really the product of the early middle ages (i.e., trinitarian Christianity, rabbinical Judaism, Karaite Judaism, Islam). Which might bring us to all sorts of interesting political questions. CJ ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis Hotel Hotel pics, info and virtual tours. Click here to book a hotel online. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=z_oz-dMTQYIdhJoJwupsTAAAJ1AP8ttsZd_TbiVxkZxsC3mBAAYAAADNAAATRAA= ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
