God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now

God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now
by John Dominic Crossan

God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now
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Book Summary Information

Author: John Dominic Crossan
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-02-26
ISBN: 0060858311
Number of pages: 257
Publisher: HarperOne

Book Reviews of God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now

Book Review: Divine Caesar vs. Earthly Jesus
Summary: 5 Stars

In his latest reconsideration of the relations between Judaism and Christianity on the one hand and Roman Imperialism on the other, Dr Crossan treats us to a fascinating account of the parallels as well as the contrasts between the two systems. Did you imagine, for example, that "Son of God" and "Savior of the World" were titles unique to Christian thought? Not a bit of it! Both were given to the Emperor Augustus before Jesus of Nazareth was even born! That is just one example, says Crossan, of the way in which the two competing systems, Roman Peace by Domination and Judaeo-Christian Peace by (Distributive) Justice sometimes found themselves using the same language. The danger has always been that in using the language of earthly success, Judaeo-Christianity would stray into the sphere of power politics ... and so it has - all too often. This book is a must-read for anyone who is sick of political domination by fear and greed and longs for justice and peace through non-violent action. Doesn't that mean you and me?

Summary of God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now

At the heart of the Bible is a moral and ethical call to fight unjust superpowers, whether they are Babylon, Rome, or even America.

From the divine punishment and promise found in Genesis through the revolutionary messages of Jesus and Paul, John Dominic Crossan reveals what the Bible has to say about land and economy, violence and retribution, justice and peace, and, ultimately, redemption. In contrast to the oppressive Roman military occupation of the first century, he examines the meaning of the non-violent Kingdom of God prophesized by Jesus and the equality advocated by Paul to the early Christian churches. Crossan contrasts these messages of peace with the misinterpreted apocalyptic vision from the Book of Revelation, which has been misrepresented by modern right-wing theologians and televangelists to justify U.S. military actions in the Middle East.

In God and Empire Crossan surveys the Bible from Genesis to Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation, and discovers a hopeful message that cannot be ignored in these turbulent times. The first-century Pax Romana, Crossan points out, was in fact a "peace" won through violent military action. Jesus preached a different kind of peace?a peace that surpasses all understanding?and a kingdom not of Caesar but of God.

The Romans executed Jesus because he preached this Kingdom of God, a kingdom based on peace and justice, over the empire of Rome, which ruled by violence and force. For Jesus and Paul, Crossan explains, peace cannot be won the Roman way, through military victory, but only through justice and fair and equal treatment of all people.

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