The Religions of the Roman Empire

by John Ferguson

Book by Ferguson, John

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, History

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

John Ferguson (b. Manchester, 2 March 1921; d. Birmingham, 22 May 1989) studied Classics and Theology, becoming Professor of Classics at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was subsequently founding Dean of Arts at the Open University, and President of the Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham. Ferguson took part in the Dunblane Consultations from 1962 onwards (see Dunblane Praises*). He was a lay preacher in the Congregational Church, after 1972 in the United Reformed Church. He was a committed Christian pacifist, and did much work for the Fellowship of Reconciliation (he was co-editor, with his wife, of Reconciliation Quarterly). Author of more than 50 books.

Reviews

[sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource, though interpretation scattered throughout and especially the last section consistently reframes beliefs into being correct if they align with monotheism; the blindness to this automatic normalization is painful.

The disdain for Marcus Aurelius is relentless. Even “the weakness of [his] features” supports the author’s view of his mediocrity. If only the good emperor had recorded a phrenologist’s mapping of his skull bumps.

I enjoyed this book, but it is 50 years old. Am example: “With Freud behind us we can evaluate Valentinus more justly than any previous generation.

I audibly giggled.

So have fun. It’s not faultless, but neither am I (see giggling).