Comments on: Harland on the Uniqueness of Early Christians http://patmccullough.com/2009/12/28/harland-on-the-uniqueness-of-early-christians/ a blog exploring Christian origins, biblical studies, social/cultural history, method, education and the journey through academia Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:53:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Patrick George McCullough http://patmccullough.com/2009/12/28/harland-on-the-uniqueness-of-early-christians/comment-page-1/#comment-1970 Patrick George McCullough Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:17:58 +0000 http://patmccullough.com/?p=1663#comment-1970 Thanks, Stephen. It's a fair point. That's one of the issues I will hope to address in my blogged review. But my initial thought about its value is in his <a href="http://patmccullough.com/2009/12/22/philip-harland-on-social-history-and-social-science/" rel="nofollow">reasonable utilization of social scientific methodology</a>, his presentation of the epigraphical data, his challenge to the use of "sect" as a sweeping category (already put forth in his previous book), and his challenge to those who only emphasize the uniqueness of early Christian groups. It seems to me that the book helps paint a balanced and nuanced picture of the formation of early Christian identity, solidly rooted within its social historical context. Sometimes I think that what we need is a good dose of reasonableness, balance, and nuance. Particularly if it's based on thorough-going attention to tangible evidence. Thanks, Stephen. It’s a fair point. That’s one of the issues I will hope to address in my blogged review. But my initial thought about its value is in his reasonable utilization of social scientific methodology, his presentation of the epigraphical data, his challenge to the use of “sect” as a sweeping category (already put forth in his previous book), and his challenge to those who only emphasize the uniqueness of early Christian groups. It seems to me that the book helps paint a balanced and nuanced picture of the formation of early Christian identity, solidly rooted within its social historical context.

Sometimes I think that what we need is a good dose of reasonableness, balance, and nuance. Particularly if it’s based on thorough-going attention to tangible evidence.

]]> By: Stephen C. Carlson http://patmccullough.com/2009/12/28/harland-on-the-uniqueness-of-early-christians/comment-page-1/#comment-1969 Stephen C. Carlson Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:36:09 +0000 http://patmccullough.com/?p=1663#comment-1969 The conclusion sounds very reasonable, so much so, in fact, that I'm curious about how much does Harland actually advance the ball in our understanding of the perceptions of early Christianity. The conclusion sounds very reasonable, so much so, in fact, that I’m curious about how much does Harland actually advance the ball in our understanding of the perceptions of early Christianity.

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