This course will illustrate the many connections between Christianity and the Roman Empire, which were extensive, highly important and occasionally dramatic with Emperors determining religious dogma, Popes leading armies into war, and occasional humiliations, kidnappings and possible murders. In addition, the course will outline the events that led to the triumph of Catholicism. This is an introductory course. I am not an expert in the subject (nor even a historian), but I have long been fascinated by this story, and have researched it extensively over many years. I believe that many commonly-held views of both Christianity and the Roman Empire are distortions of the facts, and one of my objectives is to correct these. Please note that this course contains some speculations and opinions that may offend sincere Christians and also contains, of course, references to some violent events.
There will be no sessions on 2 May or 13 June.