Society & Economics in Early Christianity
The Early Christian period dates from the time of Christ's death. The forming of the First Council of Nicaea in 325 marked the unification of church doctrine and the end of what is referred to as Early Christianity.
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Influences
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The lives and social norms of the common people in early Christianity took a great deal of influence from Jewish culture. Asceticism was popular at this time, and holy men and women would renounce worldly possessions, fast and remain celibate as part of a spiritual journey.
Features
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Economic systems within early Christian societies were communal, often what we consider today as communist or socialist. In his 1889 work "Socialism: Utopian and Scientific," Frederick Engels made comparisons between the "Utopian" practice of communal living in early Christian societies and the socialist theories of his contemporaries.
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Gender
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Society in early Christianity did not have rigid rules for the roles of women. Though certain behaviors and societal roles for women were more commonplace, early Christian scholars such as St. Clement of Alexandria advocated equality among men and women. He stated that women were as capable as men in regards to following a spiritual path and attaining a philosophical life.
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References
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- Photo Credit jerusalem image by Claudia Liebram from Fotolia.com
