English Conferences of Ernest Renan: Rome and Christianity. Marcus Aurelius

"English Conferences of Ernest Renan: Rome and Christianity. Marcus Aurelius" is a historical account of lectures presented by Ernest Renan, translated by Clara Erskine Clement, written in the late 19th century. This work comprises a series of conferences discussing the intertwined histories of Christianity and Rome, as well as reflections on Marcus Aurelius. The book explores the profound cultural and philosophical impacts of the Roman Empire on Christianity, highlighting the contributions of various figures and ideas that shaped early Christian thought. The opening of the work introduces Renan's perspective on the uniqueness of Christianity and its deep roots in Roman culture. He articulates the responsibilities of faith and scholarship, asserting that the pursuit of truth transcends fear of theological consequences. Renan emphasizes the importance of understanding Christianity as a dynamic force emerging from the historical context of Judaism and influenced by the broader cultural milieu of the Roman Empire. He outlines the early development of Christian thought and the significant role of Rome in disseminating and establishing ecclesiastical authority, setting the stage for the detailed exploration of these themes in the ensuing conferences. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Joseph Ernest Renan was a French Orientalist and Semitic scholar, writing on Semitic languages and civilizations, historian of religion, philologist, philosopher, biblical scholar, and critic. He wrote works on the origins of early Christianity, and espoused popular political theories especially concerning nationalism, national identity, and the alleged superiority of White people over other human "races". Renan is known as being among the first scholars to advance the debunked Khazar theory, which held that Ashkenazi Jews were descendants of the Khazars, Turkic peoples who had adopted the Jewish religion and allegedly migrated to central and eastern Europe following the collapse of their khanate.