Destroyer of the gods

Archival Summary & Scope

Early Christianity earned Roman scorn, dismissed as "new," "irrational," and "threatening" in a world where novelty was no virtue. In *Destroyer of the gods*, Larry W. Hurtado explores how this nascent faith not only survived but thrived despite widespread opposition, highlighting its uniquely disruptive characteristics.

Hurtado reveals how early Christians fundamentally rejected traditional gods, forging a radical new identity unconstrained by ethnicity. Unlike other religions, Christianity was profoundly "bookish," with text production, copying, and reading central to its practice, even favoring the codex form. It demanded a transformative ethical commitment from all adherents, not just a select few.

Despite Roman accusations of atheism and subversion, Hurtado demonstrates that these very traits — once deemed objectionable — became foundational, ultimately destroying one world and shaping another that largely takes them for granted today.