God and Empire

In God and Empire, biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan examines the relationship between Christianity and imperial power throughout history. He analyzes how biblical texts and Christian theology have interacted with systems of empire from ancient Rome to modern times. The book traces patterns of imperialism and resistance in both the Old and New Testaments, with particular focus on Jesus's teachings and their political implications. Crossan investigates how early Christians understood and responded to Roman imperial domination, comparing their approaches to contemporary religious responses to power. Through historical analysis and scriptural interpretation, Crossan explores how Christian movements and institutions have alternately opposed and aligned themselves with imperial forces over two millennia. He documents the evolution of Christian attitudes toward violence, justice, and power across different cultural and historical contexts. The work presents a fundamental tension between the nonviolent message at Christianity's core and its later entanglements with empire and force. This examination raises questions about faith, power, and human nature that remain relevant to modern discussions of religion and politics.

Readers appreciate Crossan's historical analysis connecting Roman imperialism to modern American foreign policy, with many noting his clear writing style and scholarly approach to Biblical interpretation. Reviews highlight his arguments about Jesus's teachings as a nonviolent alternative to imperial domination. Common criticisms focus on Crossan's perceived political bias and what some call an oversimplified view of American foreign policy. Several readers disagree with his interpretations of Biblical passages and find his conclusions about Jesus's message selective. Reader David K on Amazon writes: "Strong on historical context but pushes modern political parallels too far." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (506 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (98 ratings) Top review themes: - Clear writing and research citations - Thought-provoking parallels between ancient and modern empires - Questions traditional Christian interpretations - Shows bias in modern political analysis - Repetitive in later chapters

Jesus Before Christianity by Albert Nolan This examination of the historical Jesus focuses on his role as a social revolutionary who challenged Roman imperial power and religious hierarchies.

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright Two biblical scholars present contrasting interpretations of Jesus's relationship to empire, violence, and social justice in the first-century context.

Religion and Empire by Jonathan Berkey The text analyzes how religious movements and imperial powers have interacted throughout history, from ancient Rome through modern times.

Constantine's Sword by James Carroll This investigation traces Christianity's transformation from a persecuted faith to an imperial power and its effects on Christian-Jewish relations.

Jesus and Empire by Richard A. Horsley The book examines Jesus's message and movement within the context of Roman imperial domination and Jewish resistance in ancient Palestine.

🔹 John Dominic Crossan was one of the founders of the Jesus Seminar, a controversial group of scholars who voted on the historical authenticity of Jesus's sayings and deeds using colored beads. 🔹 The book explores how Jesus's teachings were actually anti-imperial, contrasting sharply with Rome's "peace through victory" approach, advocating instead for "peace through justice." 🔹 Crossan examines how Paul's letters show early Christianity struggling between two models: operating as an alternative to empire versus becoming a version of empire itself. 🔹 The author analyzes how the Book of Revelation, rather than being primarily about the end times, was actually a coded critique of Roman imperial power and civilization. 🔹 While researching ancient civilizations for this book, Crossan extensively studied archaeological findings from Roman Palestine, including ancient graffiti and artifacts that helped illuminate daily life under empire.