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Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews -- A History
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Average Rating:  out of 250 Reviews
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Price: $17.00
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Sale: $7.99
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Manufacturer: Mariner Books
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UPC (Universal Product Code): 046442219082
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780618219087
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: James Carroll
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Publisher: Mariner Books
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Dewey Decimal Number: 261.2609
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Publication Date: 2001-04-01
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Reading Level: 768
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Description: Constantine's Sword is a sprawling work of history, theology, and personal confession by James Carroll (the author of An American Requiem, among many others). Carroll begins his landmark project by describing contemporary Catholic remembrances of the Holocaust and the Church's intolerable legacy of hostility towards Jews. He then surveys Catholic anti-Judaism beginning with the New Testament and proceeding through the early Church, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Enlightenment, and World War II, before concluding with "A Call for Vatican III," a Church council that would make meaningful repentance for an entrenched tradition of hatred. Carroll's prescriptions for repentance, continued in a powerful epilogue, are bracingly concrete: "there is no apology for Holy Week preaching that prompted pogroms until Holy Week liturgies, sermons, and readings have been purged of the anti-Jewish slanders that sent the mobs rushing out of church.... Forgiveness for the sin of anti-Semitism presumes a promise to dismantle all that makes it possible." Carroll's personal reflections as an American Catholic infuse his historical narrative, and although his reflections are sometimes unnecessarily detailed, they are admirable for the principle they express: "I find myself unable to accuse my Church of any sin that I cannot equally accuse myself of," he writes. Carroll's judgments on the Church are rightly harsh, even agonizing. And yet his vision for a future rapprochement between Christians and Jews is hopeful, in part because he personally has come to understand the deep connections between Israel and the Church: "Jesus offers me, a non-Jew, access to the biblical hope that was his birthright as a son of Israel." --Michael Joseph Gross
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Dig Deeper |
Date: 2008-09-04 |
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Details: I think a point of interest is that Constantine was a Pagan his entire life and did not denounce Paganism until he was on his death bed. He mandated that Sunday be observed as The Sabbath (makes sense because it is a Pagan Sabbath, Sun Day reserved for worship of The Sun God) The Jews are the only ones observing the True Sabbath (Saturday). It was at this point Christianity took an interesting turn and Christians no longer worshipped as 1st century Christians but more like Pagans. They were basically forced to adopt many pagan rituals through the guise of Catholicism. I do not think this was an accident seeing as The Roman Empire was predominantly Pagan. They were having great difficulty in Controlling Christians and I believe candy coating Paganism in Christianity was a way to achieve total control. It is not religion that seeks to control the masses it's actually Pagans and they want you to believe it's Religion or better yet Christians. True Christians aren't war mongers. If you celebrate Easter(The worship of Ishtar) and Christmas (Saturnalia, The birth of the Sun God) you are practicing Pagan Traditions. Christ was born in the fall sometime between Sept and October. Christ was killed by The Roman Empire, therefore killed by Pagans not by The Jewish people. Although they would like you to believe that. I was raised Catholic however I do believe that many of the atrocities committed have not been by Christians they have been orchestrated by Pagans since the beginning of time. History will show you that. Just as I don't believe the Amish are a violent people. |
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Review Summary: 2000 years of western history |
Date: 2008-08-22 |
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Details: To understand the history of western civilization it is imperative to understand the catholic church in particular, and christianity in general. For a basic understanding of these underpinnings of the western world, this book is a must. Whether you agree or not with Carroll on points, it is a thought provoking and well choreographed work. Being an anti-religionist, I approached this book with scepticism, but after just the first few lines I was taken in. Caroll is a thoughtful writer whose melodious use of words and language make this hefty book a treasure. I don't believe the book is available in an audible format, but it should be. |
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Review Summary: Briiliant, disturbing |
Date: 2008-07-29 |
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Details: I found this book to be factual, brilliant and disturbing. Perhaps if the issues in this book could be openly addressed by all religions, as the author so desires, we could have love replace fear and its evil twin hatred as the dominant emotions in the world today. |
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Review Summary: CONSTANTINE'S SWORD |
Date: 2008-07-17 |
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Details: A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORICAL BOOK. ONCE YOU START READING IT IS VERY HARD TO PUT DOWN IT IS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND ENTERTAINING. THIS BOOK HAS CONFIRMED A LOT OF THE BELIEVES I HAD ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CHURCH FOUNDED BY THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE BUT SOMETIMES IT IS VERY HARD AS A CHRISTIAN TO READ ABOUT THE HORRORS COMMITED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. I WOULD ONLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO THOSE WHO ARE OPEN TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH AS DIFFICULT AS IT MAY BE TO ACCEPT IT. IT IS MY OPINION THAT RELIGIOUS AND PIOUS INDIVIDUALS MAY BE OFFENDED BY THE TRUTHS EXPOSED IN THIS WONDERFUL WORK. |
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Review Summary: Best Book I Have Ever Read |
Date: 2008-07-11 |
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Details: This is the best book I've ever read. I was amazed to discover the actual origins of some church policies and the specifics of how anti-semitism arose in Western society. This isn't just another boring history book, it almost reads like a novel. It will enlighten you, and thereby, make you a beter person no matter what your religion. |
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