The Conversions of Christianity
Paula Fredriksen's six-part Gifford Lecture series at the University of Edinburgh tracing the social, theological, and political transformations of early Christianity across the Mediterranean world.
Syllabus
6A World Full of Gods
Establishing the ancient Mediterranean religious and cosmic frameworks, providing the essential intellectual backdrop for understanding the genesis and evolution of early Christianities.
Israel Abroad: Jews Among the Gods
Exploring the diverse expressions of ancient Jewish identity within the Graeco-Roman world, establishing the foundational context for early Christian development.
From Jesus to Christ
Tracing the transformation of Jesus's Galilean message into the broader Christian narrative, focusing on the pivotal role of Paul's Greek-speaking diaspora perspective.
The End, and New Beginnings
An examination of early Christian development through the lens of ancient Jewish apocalyptic traditions and the ethnographic conventions shaping Paul's message.
When Does Christianity Become Christianity?
In her fifth Gifford Lecture, Professor Paula Fredriksen investigates the critical inflection points at which early gospel traditions evolved into distinct Christian movements, addressing ethnicity, divinity, and developing theological distinctions.
The Conversions of Christianity
Professor Paula Fredriksen concludes her Gifford Lecture series, examining how the progressive Christianization of government and church institutionalization transformed concepts of God, humanity, and the universe.