Secular Gospel of Sophia, The
They were building a religion. She was keeping a faith.
They were building a religion. She was keeping a faith.
They were building a religion. She was keeping a faith.
Christianity (general), Historical, Religious
In the turbulent 4th Century, Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity as the faith of the Empire. The Secular Gospel of Sophia examines what was lost as a result.
Sophia is an accidental traveller and keen observer on the road to Nicaea and of the creation of the Catholic Church. She becomes an unwilling symbol of Gnostic Christianity that the newly empowered Catholics are determined to destroy. Can she survive the zealous forces arrayed against her? Can she preserve the remnants of an endangered faith? Can she live a secular life amidst religious passions that are tearing the old world apart – and building a new one in its place?
Daniel G. Helton’s first novel, took six years to research and write. Through a rich blend of important historical and realistic fictional characters, the book takes the reader through the last days of Gnostic Christianity, the formation of the Catholic Church under the influence of Roman Emperors, and the Christian assault on the Greco-Roman intellectual heritage.
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A wonderful and thought-provoking work with characters you want to read about. There are passages throughout this book that are just flat-out beautifully written. Dan Helton very cleverly tells the story of Sophia, weaving it into a fabric of Gnostic concepts, debates about the nature of Jesus, the bitter struggles and rivalries that marked early Christianity, and the use of the new religion to the purposes of an empire. Altogether a fascinating and engaging tale. ~ Lawrence Lamb, www.sophiagospel.com
What I loved the most is the rich blend of history, philosophy, fiction and satire. The long read is worth the effort, as one begins to see the world through Sophia’s eyes. It is not her beauty that draws you into the book but her perfect mind. Congratulations Dan, for cracking open the earthen jar and bringing us this book! ~ Laura Kelly, www.sophiagospel.com