Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety: Some Aspects of Religious Experience from Marcus Aurelius to Constantine (Wiles Lectures Given at the Queens University, Belfast) [Paperback]

E. R. Dodds (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521385997 | ISBN-13: 978-0521385992 | Publication Date: February 22, 1991

Drawing on the abundant material available for the study of religious experience in late antiquity, Professor Dodds examines the personal religious attitudes and experiences common to pagans and Christians in the period between Marcus Aurelius and Constantine. World-hatred and asceticism, dreams and states of possession, and pagan and Christian mysticism are all discussed. Finally, Dodds considers both pagan views of Christianity and Christian views of paganism as they emerge in the literature of the time. Although primarily written for social and religious historians, this study will also appeal to all those interested in the ancient world and its thought.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The outstanding characteristics of [Dodds'] work...are a rather rare union of detachment and sympathy, a combination of precise scholarship and a degree of acquaintance with contemporary psychological theories unusual in a classical scholar, and last, but not least, an ability to write very well." The Times Literary Supplement

Book Description

An examination of the common attitudes of pagans and Christians in the period between Marcus Aurelius and Constantine considers world-hatred, asceticism, dreams, states of possession, and pagan and Christian mysticism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (February 22, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521385997
• ISBN-13: 978-0521385992
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I read it in one sitting, December 31, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety: Some Aspects of Religious Experience from Marcus Aurelius to Constantine (Wiles Lectures Given at the Queens University, Belfast) (Paperback)

Dodds delivers a concise but fascinating book on the interactions between the receeding Roman pagan religions and nascent Christianity. He draws heavily on primary sources, and (unlike too many other texts on the subject) refrains from gratuitous explanations and judgements. Coming from a background in religious philosophy, I would recommend this book for those interested in the formation of (and interrelatedness of) the religious ideas of Christianity, Gnosticism, Orphic/Pythagorean cults, and Neoplatonism.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars worth a look, March 4, 2007

By 

D. Held (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety: Some Aspects of Religious Experience from Marcus Aurelius to Constantine (Hardcover)

This is a series of lectures (4) comparing various aspects of Christian Pagan spirituality. Though it has the quality of a lecture it is very well footnoted and annotated; there are gems and wry comments sprinkled throughout. The method of comparison is one of textual literary analysis, something that might seem a little old-fashioned especially when one considers how little of the writings of Late Antiquity has come down to us. (Ie, you can't make generalizations on general religious behavior with such scanty evidence.) Get it for its fluent discussion of various Christian and Pagan sects and their sometimes silliness. BTW, the author is an admitted agnostic and is not above an irreverent comment or two on religion.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic, August 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety: Some Aspects of Religious Experience from Marcus Aurelius to Constantine (Wiles Lectures Given at the Queens University, Belfast) (Paperback)

as funny as this sounds, i really found this book hard to put down. dodds gives a really nice, clear overview of the similarities between pagan and christian religions in the early-AD period, as well as touching briefly on the debates between them. this book also includes a lot on the sort of one-hit religious wonders of the ancient world. a pretty short read, and very informative.