The Evolution of Early Christian Thought and Spirituality

An enquiry into the cultural roots of western Christian civilization focusing on its Jewish, Greek, Roman, and Persian antecedents and its evolution during the first four centuries of our era. Attention is given to present day issues such as biblical criticism as well as Third World political and economic factors challenging traditional beliefs. Special focus is given to Jesus the Jew and to the problem of anti-Semitism in the early church.