In this episode of History 102, WhatifAltHist creator Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg explore the surprising origins of Christianity.
From a carpenter's son's teachings to its unexpected rise to global dominance, discover how this religion, appealing to the marginalized, provided a sense of community and purpose in a brutal world. Learn how this religion, once seen as a radical threat, became a defining force in Western history.
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@whatifalthist (Rudyard)
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@TurpentineMedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:16) The Rise of Christianity
(02:04) Roman Empire and Social Dynamics
(04:35) Jesus of Nazareth and His Impact
(15:06) Sponsor: beehiiv | Babbel
(16:10) Christianity's Appeal and Spread
(33:16) Persecution and Triumph
(38:16) The Evolution of Christianity
(50:59) Christianity's Cultural Adaptations
(57:45) Conclusion and Book Recommendations
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
- The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name by Brian C. Muraresku
- Apollodorus of Tyana
- Household Gods by Harry Turtledove
- Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards
- The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures Kindle Edition by Jayson Georges
- Dominion by Tom Holland
- Through the Eye of a Needle: Wealth, the Fall of Rome, and the Making of Christianity in the West, 350-550 AD by Peter Brown
- The World of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown
- Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch
- The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark
