Project Description

Early Christianity is frequently credited with the invention or advancement of ethnic equality since everyone could join the new faith regardless of ethnic identity. This project inquires if and how this inclusive outlook translated into a commitment to the equality of ethnic groups. Did it rule out ethnic prejudices and stereotyping of other Christians or outsiders? What theories and arguments did early Christian authors develop in support of ethnic (in)equality? Given the enormous impact of early Christian literature in later centuries, this project is a significant contribution to our understanding of the historical development of theories of ethnicity and ‘race.’

The project is funded by an NWO Vidi grant. The research will be carried out at Radboud University by the PI, two postdocs and visiting fellows, in consultation with an advisory board of leading international scholars and with the support of a student-assistant.