Reconceptualising Conversion Patronage, Loyalty, and Conversion in the Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean - Crook, Zeba A. 1966- (De Gruyter, 2004)
Includes bibliographical references (pages [257]-285) and indexes. - Revision of the author's thesis (Ph. D.)
Biographical note: Expanded Ph.D. dissertation (2003) under the supervision of Prof. John S. Kloppenborg, University of Toronto, Canada. Zeba A. Crook is now an assistant professor in the department of Classics and Religion at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Main description: Combining classical, epigraphical, and biblical sources with social-scientific methodology, this monograph questions the way in which modern scholarship has tended to discuss ancient conversion. The author challenges long-held assumptions of psychological continuity between ancient and modern people, and offers in place of these assumptions a model founded on the categories the ancients used themselves. Graeco-Roman and Mediterranean religions and philosophies, including Hellenistic Judaism and Christianity, framed their religion in the language of patronage / benefaction and loyalty, and thus an understanding of ancient conversion must start there
Main description: Der Autor nimmt die Diskussion der Konversion in der Antike neu auf und hinterfragt die bisher vorausgesetzte psychologische Kontinuität zwischen antikem und modernem Menschen. Im Unterschied dazu bietet er ein Modell, das sich an den Denkvoraussetzungen der Antike orientiert. In diesem Zusammenhang wird auch die "Bekehrung" des Paulus neu gedeutet
Review text: "Crook has given us a rewarding study in ancient patronal relationships that is competent, interesting, and [...] undoubtedly correct."Carolyn Osiek in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2006.02.33