But what an audacious claim! Compared with other kingdoms of the world, or even with other groups with roots in ancient ethnic, national, or religious traditions (such as the mystery cults, associations, or Jewish synagogues), these Christians were nothing more than little ad hoc cells of unlikely people experimenting with a novel social notion. They had no status, no power, no cultural tradition of their own. And yet here they were, no longer thinking of themselves on the model of an association, content to promote a teaching, philosophy, or social vision. They were thinking of themselves as
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