Religion in the Roman Empire

by James B. Rives

This book provides an engaging, systematic introduction to religion in the Roman empire.

Genres: History, Religion, Classical Studies, Christianity, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2006

Reviews

[LINDSAY · Rating 4 out of 5]

The diverse beliefs of the period are introduced in an accessible manner that makes this a useful introduction to otherwise perhaps more biased histories promoted by interest groups, such as the continuing religions of today. By the same token it is helpful to contextualize today’s popular discussions around religions as it points out that humans create a range of approaches in assuaging their search for meaning. The similarities between religions are thus more important to observe than their differences. For example, the artificial distinctions between polytheism and monotheism emerge from the pages without being laboured. As the work points out, traditions of philosophy at the time were a whole-of-life commitment, not an academic subject. They were rational attempts to understand the world and as such they prepared the ground for later intellectual thought. I particularly liked this approach of seeing a continuity in understanding for the West. The influence of the East on the Roman Empire is a wider subject that requires another book. This book is a good introduction to the general subject of religions within the Roman Empire. Professor Emeritus Lindsay Falvey

[Taylor Swift Scholar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was shocked by how much of this I already knew, but Rives is a clear writer who clearly organizes and synthesizes what we know about Religion in the Roman Empire. A solid introduction to the diversity of religious practices and beliefs in the Roman Empire and what they meant to the communities practicing them.

[Lars-Martin Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Er det juks å ha pensum på GR?
Uansett - veldig bra gjennomgang av religiøs praksis i antikken; fikk meg til å innse at jeg egentlig ikke kan noe (til tross for en hel del Percy Jackson i ungdommen, samt oppheng i Romerriket)

[Morgan]

Very interesting book! Goes into the details of roman religion and how their view of religion was different than ours.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting introduction to religion in the Roman world. Gave me a new framework to consider religion under while being easy to follow and well structured.

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religion in the Roman Empire by James B. Rives allows readers to glimpse the colorful menagerie of the various beliefs that saturated the lands of the Caesars. Rives is well-organized and clear in his presentation, all the while covering large swaths of the Empire, from North Africa to Gaul and everywhere in between. He begins rightly by creating the context with which to study ancient polytheism, that is, to leave our modern pretensions about religion and piety out of the academic arena, and meet the ancient Romans on their own terms and by their own definitions. The rest of the work does great justice to this view as Rives approaches each subject with respect and objectivity. He covers the basics: the views of the divine and their relationship with mortals, the imperial and mystery cults, the mobility and inclusion of foreign gods, Roman religious policy, and finally, the dominance of Christianity. This last subject is not seen with bias but is also considered on its own terms with some insightful suggestions by Rives.

This book being an introduction that covers such a huge array of material, no single item is given great detail. However, what it lacks in detail it provides in perspective and equips the reader well for further study.

[Maggie Gann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of religion's many aspects in the Roman world. Very clear explanation of the interplay between private/public and secular/sacred.