The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity

European Christians think of their religion as the "normal" expression of Christianity, in contrast to such ethnic offshoots as the Maronite, Coptic, or Russian Orthodox faiths. In fact, however, as James Russell here shows, Europeanized Christianity is highly adapted, arising from the early interaction of Mediterranean Christianity with Northern European culture. This book takes a close look at the ways in which Christianity changed in orderto win the allegiance of the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon peoples. Russell argues that the Northern peoples were far more resistant to conversion than the disaffected, urban populace of the Roman Empirehad been. Unlike their Mediterranean counterparts, the Northerners displayed a high level of social solidarity. As a result, Russell contends, considerable cultural accommodation was necessary for Christianity to take hold in the Germanic context. In the process of exploring the nature of these changes, Russell develops a suggestive new model of the ways in which religious change occurs in any culture.

“"There is far more to the book than simply a demonstration thatChristianity was powerfully influenced by Germanic--and by extension,Indo-European--'world-accepting' religious ideas at a crucial phase in itsevolution. Indeed, Russell develops a general model of religious change thatought to be of interest to anyone concerned with the sociology (or anthropology)of belief systems per se, let alone the history of the Church."--C. ScottLittleton, Occidental College”

"A provocative and admirable work."--Choice"Fascinating. It is a very important contribution to the growing awareness of the bright light of the 'Dark' Ages."--Ronald Murphy, Georgetown University"There is far more to the book than simply a demonstration that Christianity was powerfully influenced by Germanic--and by extension, Indo-European--'world-accepting' religious ideas at a crucial phase in its evolution. Indeed, Russell develops a general model of religious change that ought to be of interest to anyone concerned with the sociology (or anthropology) of belief systems per se, let alone the history of the Church."--C. Scott Littleton,Occidental College"An intelligent synthesis of observations from a wide range of anthropological, historical, and other literature....An overarching schema that identifies and explains important Germanic contributions to Christendom."--Catholic Historical Review"A provocative and admirable work."--Choice"Fascinating. It is a very important contribution to the growing awareness of the bright light of the 'Dark' Ages."--Ronald Murphy, Georgetown University"There is far more to the book than simply a demonstration that Christianity was powerfully influenced by Germanic--and by extension, Indo-European--'world-accepting' religious ideas at a crucial phase in its evolution. Indeed, Russell develops a general model of religious change that ought to be of interest to anyone concerned with the sociology (or anthropology) of belief systems per se, let alone the history of the Church."--C. Scott Littleton,Occidental College"An intelligent synthesis of observations from a wide range of anthropological, historical, and other literature....An overarching schema that identifies and explains important Germanic contributions to Christendom."--Catholic Historical Review

Ph.D. Fordham University, 1990

While historians of Christianity have generally acknowledged some degree of Germanic influence in the development of early medieval Christianity, Russell goes further, arguing for a fundamental Germanic reinterpretation of Christianity. This first full-scale treatment of the subject follows a truly interdisciplinary approach, applying to the early medieval period a sociohistorical method similar to that which has already proven fruitful in explicating the history of Early Christianity and Late Antiquity. The encounter of the Germanic peoples with Christianity is studied from within the larger context of the encounter of a predominantly "world-accepting" Indo-European folk-religiosity with predominantly "world-rejecting" religious movements. While the first part of the book develops a general model of religious transformation for such encounters, the second part applies this model to the Germano-Christian scenario. Russell shows how a Christian missionary policy of temporary accommodation inadvertently contributed to a reciprocal Germanization of Christianity.

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