From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality in Late Antiquity

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Tracing sexual mores' shift from Rome to Christianity.

If you're fascinated by the intricate relationship between sexuality and society, "From Shame to Sin" offers a deep dive into one of history's most transformative periods. Kyle Harper articulates how the rise of Christianity redefined personal ethics and societal norms, shedding light on the profound evolution of sexual morality. This exploration will not only inform you about the past but also provide context to the sexual ethos influencing the present.

From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality in Late Antiquity

Regular price $13.90
Unit price
per
ISBN: 9780674072770
Authors: Kyle Harper
Date of Publication: 2013-06-14
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Sociology, History, Politics, Religion
Goodreads rating: 4.24
(rated by 148 readers)

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When Rome was at its height, an emperor’s male beloved, victim of an untimely death, would be worshipped around the empire as a god. In this same society, the routine sexual exploitation of poor and enslaved women was abetted by public institutions. Four centuries later, a Roman emperor commanded the mutilation of men caught in same-sex affairs, even as he affirmed the moral dignity of women without any civic claim to honor. The gradual transformation of the Roman world from polytheistic to Christian marks one of the most sweeping ideological changes of premodern history. At the center of it all was sex. Exploring sources in literature, philosophy, and art, Kyle Harper examines the rise of Christianity as a turning point in the history of sexuality and helps us see how the roots of modern sexuality are grounded in an ancient religious revolution. While Roman sexual culture was frankly and freely erotic, it was not completely unmoored from constraint. Offending against sexual morality was cause for shame, experienced through social condemnation. The rise of Christianity fundamentally changed the ethics of sexual behavior. In matters of morality, divine judgment transcended that of mere mortals, and shame—a social concept—gave way to the theological notion of sin. This transformed understanding led to Christianity’s explicit prohibitions of homosexuality, extramarital love, and prostitution. Most profound, however, was the emergence of the
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Tracing sexual mores' shift from Rome to Christianity.

If you're fascinated by the intricate relationship between sexuality and society, "From Shame to Sin" offers a deep dive into one of history's most transformative periods. Kyle Harper articulates how the rise of Christianity redefined personal ethics and societal norms, shedding light on the profound evolution of sexual morality. This exploration will not only inform you about the past but also provide context to the sexual ethos influencing the present.