Pagans by James J. O'Donnell

Pagans - The End of Traditional Religion and the Rise of Christianity was a book I started reading on Good Friday, just for the symbolic effect.  When I checked the back flap and read that Mr. O'Donnell was a provost at Georgetown and former president of the American Philological Association, I felt like I had a good substitute for missing CAMWS in Boulder this March.  Alas and alack, the book is flat.

As an English major, I could not abide trying to memorize the names of the English kings; same deal with the Roman emperors, especially once they tended to come from anywhere but Rome.  I was hoping the book would explain the rites and horrors of paganism and the triumph of Christianity (aka Roman Catholicism).  What little I took away was philological ... they made up the word pagan.  The only quotes that capture the limited gist of this history follow:

"Two things happened to get this word to where we see it now.   First, a sharp-tongued Christian used it to make a point.  In early Christian metaphor, the true Christian was a "soldier of Christ," miles Christi, which made good sense especially among those communities that were insisting that Christians could not serve as real soldiers in earthly armies.  At about this time (call it 200 CE), with a Roman army ... occupying forts and camps ... to protect the borders of the empire against illegal immigrants they called barbarians, the word paganus had become ... something like the everyday word for "civilian" ... and the word wasn't any more kindly meant than its equivalent on modern military bases.  You  just weren't serious, weren't strong, weren't a fighter; you were just ordinary, tedious, gutless and poor."

"This word isn't an analytical term from philosophy or even sociology.  It's a stereotype, a club to hit people with.  The speaker has drawn a line of his own choosing between them and us."

The book does provoke thoughts about the evolution of religious needs in history.  As the populace evolves, its perspective on the need for ceremony changes.  Only towards the end of the book does O'Donnell move to religious philosophy,  He starts in a culture that is past making offerings to larger powers who are attributed to bringing good weather, rich crops and prosperity to one where soldiers sacrifice for battle honors.  It is an empire where successful generals became rulers because the gods favored them.  The pomp of religious holidays were quasi-political rallies supported by government coffers.  As the government revenues shrank and as the lower classes became more removed from the ceremonies, other expressions of religion appeared, typically those that expressed the needs and cares of the uneducated masses.

I have mentioned on the blog my intent to read books with one word titles and books that cut across time by everyday topics.  I must conclude that it is much more difficult even for a scholar like O'Donnell, to write concretely about a how a concept changes over time as opposed to Cod or Salt or other physical commodities.  

Perhaps not a well thought out or composed review, but the library called to dun me to return the book as well as a DVD that has gotten dusty on the nightstand like movies have tended to do the past year or so.

In passing, I will mention I read The Wife, The Mistress and The Maid, a novel interpreting the unsolved murder of Judge Crater in NYC.  Sometime ago, I believe I read about this crime before and this version posits a conspiracy beyond politics drawing in the three women as co-plotters.  

So here are two books that I read, were somewhat interesting but nothing to recommend.  Also should mention that I broke down and went back to book club last month, not because I read the book, but to see my dear friend.  A serendipitous encounter has led me to a new friend, one who was planning on leaving the club herself until me and "friend" saved the literary discussion.  Since then, I found out she works in my building and we shared a coffee and career counseling.  At the March meeting, I fell into old habits and offered to host the June gathering, suggesting we read The Circle by David Eggers.  That is what I'm reading now.  Bought it last fall and started and loved it but put it aside figuring library books took priority over purchased paperbacks.  Now that I have reread the first 100 pages or so, not sure I love it as much as I did back in the fall.  Seems more predictable than other Eggers.  Hopefully the plot will twist and turn more.