The growth of Christianity in the early centuries of the Common Era is one of the most extraordinary stories in world history. What began with a preaching day laborer and his dozen or so disciples soon grew to be the largest religion in the world, eventually taking over the entire Roman Empire. How did that happen? How was such a movement possible? Although scholars have offered a variety of theories over the years, the rise of Christianity nonetheless...

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The Romans were not the only ones to adopt a polytheistic religion. The Jews in the West and the Zoroastrians in the East rejected these ideas about the gods, and instead adopted a morally demanding monotheism. #2 Despite worshiping many gods, societies were not religiously diverse. The primary mission of pagan temples was to ensure that the gods favored...