As part of a sweeping series on the origins and relentless spread of Abrahamic monotheism, this riveting first volume begins by illuminating ancient Israel's embrace of one God and concludes with the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Delving into the roots of Judaism and the vibrant Greco-Roman world, the book vividly contextualizes Jesus's life within first-century Judea under Roman rule. It explores how his crucifixion and the enigmatic resurrection experience inspired his apostles to transform a modest, unorthodox Jewish messianic sect into a global religion with an insatiable drive for converts.
With meticulous detail, it traces the evolution of Christian theology, its stance towards pagan traditions, and its reception in a polytheistic world. The narrative then turns to Christianity, now wielding imperial power as the state sponsored religion, ruthlessly dismantling and erasing rival faiths, leaving behind shattered temples and silenced gods. From chronicling the defiance of the last pagan emperor, Julian, to detailing Christian mobs' destruction of sacred sites across the empire, the book stands as both a tribute to the vanquished polytheistic religions and a reflection on how Christian ideas continue to shape modern ideologies, including Islam, communism, secularism, revolutionary thought, and social justice. A poignant homage to fallen faiths and a stark warning for Asia's last surviving polytheistic traditions, this is a tale of the most influential and irreversible transformation in world history.
