Examining the clash between Roman religion and Christianity in Antiquity, and juxtaposing this with some of the cultural and religious conflicts currently unfolding in Europe, the author draws attention to interesting parallels linking religion, identity, and the construction of religious enemy images – and running across the fabric of time.
Here she explores a number of issues in multicultural Europe, past and present. These include cultural encounters and the concepts of religio and superstitio; infighting and propagandizing amongst emperors, philosophers, and church fathers; miracle rivalry and martyrdom; ancient Romanization and modern globalization; religious pluralism and universal values; freedom of religion and liberal democracies; and secularism and the European fear factor.
Susanne William Rasmussen – Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark – holds a PhD as well as the Danish doctoral degree dr. phil. in the Sociology of Religion and Ancient History. S.W. Rasmussen has published a wide variety of crossdisciplinary books and articles on religions and societies in the Graeco-Roman world.
