God Against the Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and PolytheismPerfectly suited to readers of Bernard Lewis and Karen Armstrong, God Against the Godsis a dramatic and eye-opening epic of the final struggle between monotheism and polytheism in the ancient world. It was a war fought by an Egyptian pharaoh, a Jewish king, and a Roman emperor—charismatic, visionary, and violent men battling in the name of the Only True God. Jonathan Kirsch demonstrates how the world of classical paganism was in fact based on religious liberty and diversity and how the advent of monotheism brought—in the name of true belief—holy war, crusades, martyrdom, and inquisitions.The last stand of paganism in the tumultuous fourth century is a rare example of a moment when two men—the Roman emperors Constantine, who initiated the Christian revolution that formed the future, and Julian, who later tried but failed to restore paganism—literally changed the history of the world. God Against the Gods, breaking a long-lived taboo, reveals monotheism’s dark side and polytheism’s bright one, illuminating the ancient roots of today’s most bloody conflicts as well as the cherished idea of religious liberty. |
Contents
THE GOD THAT FAILED | 19 |
What Did Pagans Do? | 39 |
Terror and True Belief | 65 |
Copyright | |
12 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according adapted altar ancient army Augustus authority battle believed Bible biblical bishop blood Book brother Caesar called carried century Christian church claimed classical command Constans Constantine course court cults death decrees deity described Diocletian divine Egypt embraced emperor example fact faith father favor followed Gallus Gibbon gods and goddesses hands historian holy human imperial insists Israel Israelites Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Jews John Holland Judaism Julian kind king later less letter lives marched martyr monotheism Moses mother murder offered once pagan Persecution Persian political polytheism practices Press priests punish Quoted rank regarded reign religion religious rituals Roman empire Rome rule seen served shrine single Smith soldiers sons sought sources temple tion tradition True turned western whole wife woman women worship writes Yahweh York young