Schism, syncretism and politics: Derived and implied social model in the self-definition of early Christian orthodoxy
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Schism, syncretism and politics: Derived and implied social model in the self-definition of early Christian orthodoxy | |
| Creator | Rukuni, Rugare Oliver, Erna | |
| Description | The first 400 years of Christianity posed an intricate scenario of social dynamics. The interplay of these social dynamics or catalysts analogous to time perceivably conceived the political-religious establishment that then forged orthodoxy. The resultant continuum that was consequent of the imperial religious-political merger upon the following eras further established a formative impact of these catalysts. As a revisionist analysis of the era leading up to the Constantinian turn, and a parallel comparison between preceding and following eras, this research proposes an alternate construction to the narrative of Early Christianity orthodoxy. The preceding position derives from the attempt at the development of a modular theory through which Christianity can be analysed. Through document analysis, a literature review was accomplished. The development of early Christianity from inception to 400 CE when deduced against enculturating influences implies a sociological study. From the three perceived phases that Christianity went through, Jewish-Christian schism, Hellenism and then imperial interventional politics, implications can be made upon latter eras and derivations can be deduced from earlier eras. Significantly, there seems to have been a resurgent theme in the person of religious-political institutions that consolidated their positions. The synergy and inevitability of the process that preceded the first ecumenical council are confirmed in both a positive and negative substantiation of the proposed model. The emergent episcopal leadership in Christianity and its consolidation averse to the political dynamics of imperial Rome implied a composite significance of all factors. Similarly, the intransigent nature of certain African Christian elements argues for the inevitability of cultural enculturation as precedent to political definition in the formation of a universal orthodoxy. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2019-09-25 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/hts.v75i4.5341 | |
| Source | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies; Vol 75, No 4 (2019); 9 pages 2072-8050 0259-9422 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/5341/13239
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/5341/13238
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/5341/13240
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/5341/13237
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