Early Christians as Readers (Free public lecture)

Presented by:

John S. Kloppenborg, Ph.D., FRSC
University Professor, Department for the Study of Religion
University of Toronto

In contrast to the cults of Isis, Mithras, Sarapis and other elective cults, early Christianity came to valorize reading and ‘book culture,’ constructing its sociality around the reading, interpretation, and production of texts, and representing its main figures as readers. In a culture in which literacy was a claim to social capital, the ‘bookishness’ of early Christians helps to account for the broad appeal of the cult of Christ.

Monday, 29 July
3:00-4:00 PM
Armstrong Room, OWL
Trinity College Theological School
100 Royal Parade, Parkville