Jesus dies on the Cross. This series of 14 Stations of the Cross are professionally dramatized.

Jesus is taken down from the Cross. This series of 14 Stations of the Cross are professionally dramatized.

Jesus is placed in the tomb. This series of 14 Stations of the Cross are professionally dramatized.

Mr. Michael Davies critiques the Pauline reform of the Mass. He argues convincingly that loyal Catholics have a right to criticize disciplinary decisions of the Holy See. He supports his case with quotes from distinguished scholars. Classic Davies!

Greco-Roman culture had a clear "curriculum" which it taught with great certainty. Dr. John Rao describes here the way in which Christianity came to understand its own need for a training in the new Christian Truth and pathway to God. This catechesis was developed by the men we call the Fathers, whose work is studied by the field called Patrology.

Dr. John Rao discusses the character of life and organization of government and society in the two main eras of the Roman Empire: the Principate (from Augustus until the 200's A.D.) and the Dominate (200's A.D. onwards). He describes how the Roman system became more and more "totalitarian" in a way that would clash with the expanding Christian vision.

A discussion by Dr. John Rao of the different centers of early Christianity--Alexandria, Palestine, Antioch, Asia Minor, Rome, and Gaul--and the key Church Fathers and institutions through whose work Christian theology was developed.

Dr. John Rao describes how the first great Christian writers had to explain why their religion was an acceptable one. The Apostolic Fathers and Apologists sought to show that Christianity was ancient, because it was the completion of Judaism; that it "made sense"; and, perhaps most importantly for practical reasons, that it was necessary for the survival of the Roman Empire and society.

What was necessary for Christian theology to develop? Dr. John Rao discusses the obstacles that had to be overcome in order even to begin developing a theology, as well as the numerous new problems theological speculation would engender. The idea that the world as we know it was soon coming to an end was one major roadblock to serious theological work. Why bother? this apocalyptic spirit asked.

Dr. John Rao shows that in order for theology to grow, sources of Christian teaching had to be more clearly identified, authoritative interpreters pinpointed, and, inevitably, the value of Greek philosophical language and thought admitted. Alexandria, long a center for Jewish use of Greek Platonic and rhetorical tools, was crucial in Christian theological growth. Africa, too, despite the suspicions of Tertullian, resorted to Roman legal terminology to describe Christian themes more fully.