{"product_id":"voting-about-god-in-early-church-councils-9780300255416","title":"Voting about God in Early Church Councils","description":"In this study, Ramsay MacMullen steps aside from the well-worn path that previous scholars have trod to explore exactly how early Christian doctrines became official. Drawing on extensive verbatim stenographic records, he analyzes the ecumenical councils from A.D. 325 to 553, in which participants gave authority to doctrinal choices by majority vote. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe author investigates the sometimes astonishing bloodshed and violence that marked the background to church council proceedings, and from there goes on to describe the planning and staging of councils, the emperors' role, the routines of debate, the participants' understanding of the issues, and their views on God's intervention in their activities. He concludes with a look at the significance of the councils and their doctrinal decisions within the history of Christendom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRamsay MacMullen\u003c\/b\u003e is emeritus professor in the Department of History at Yale University. Among his many previous books are \u003ci\u003eChristianizing the Roman Empire, Corruption and the Decline of Rome\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eChristianity and Paganism in the Fourth to Eighth Centuries\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Yale University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50859723784466,"sku":"9780300255416","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_8cfa0cce-1e91-42ef-9d4c-b8ce59eeb46a.jpg?v=1737562707","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/voting-about-god-in-early-church-councils-9780300255416","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}