Description
Westminster Why Christianity Happened A Sociohistorical Account of Christian Origins 26-50 CE by James G. Crossley
Looking Beyond Theological Narratives And Offering A Sociological, Economic, And Historical Examination Of The Spread Of Earliest Christianity, James Crossley Presents A Thoroughly Secular And Causal Explanation For Why The Once Law-Observant Movement Within Judaism Became The Beginnings Of A New Religion. First Analyzing The Historiography Of The New Testament And Stressing The Problematic Omission Of A Social Scientific Account, Crossley Applies A Socioeconomic Lens To The Rise Of The Jesus Movement And The Centrality Of Sinners To His Mission. Using Macrosociological Approaches, He Explains How Jesus' Jewish Teachings Sparked The Shift Toward A Gentile Religion And An International Monotheistic Trend. Finally, Using Approaches From Conversion Studies, He Provides A Sociohistorical Explanation For The Rise Of The Pauline Mission.