The Otherness of Non-Christians in the Early Middle Ages
James T. Palmer
Non-Christian ‘others’ were crucial to the definition of early medieval Christendom. Many groups certainly found it important generate a sense belonging through shared practice, history and ideals. But Christianity was story conflict, which from very beginning saw community believers struggling against Jews ‘pagan’ Romans. At end, too, Christ warned there would be ‘false prophets’ tribulations, John Patmos ravages Gog Magog faithful. When many Christians looked at ‘religious others’, they not so much ‘members religions’, as did people defined by typologies narratives designed express nature trajectory Christendom itself. This has been recurring theme in scholarship sought understand Christian views pagans, Muslims period, but effect purpose such rhetoric is always fully appreciated.
Studies in Church History