The Success of Early Christ Religion as a Result of the Inflexible and Intolerant Zeal of the Movement

Abstract Fredriksen’s monograph Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years is an important publication by one of the most prolific and influential scholars in the field. In a surprisingly small space, she gives an impressive overview of the development of early Christianity up to the end of the sixth century. The book is an enjoyable read, written in an enticing style. With regard to the so-called triumph of Christianity, Fredriksen – in continuity with Gibbon – points to two main reasons: in terms of the state, Constantine recognized the unique network of the institution of the bishop as an advantageous feast for the empire; in terms of internal appeal, Fredriksen stresses the inflexible and intolerant zeal of Christianity – in terms of worldview and, by extension, psychological attitude. The article reviews and problematizes the main points of the book. In the last part I focus on some important points of criticism that are relevant not only to Fredriksen’s argument, but to the general study of early Christian religion and to the general study of past religion.