When Children Became People: The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity (2005 Bakke), book

Odd Magne Bakke, When Children Became People: The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity (Minneapolis, MN : Fortress Press, 2005).

Abstract

"Bakke paints a fascinating picture of children's first real emergence as people against a backdrop of the ancient world. Using theological and social history research, Bakke compares Greco-Roman and Christian attitudes toward abortion and child prostitution, pedagogy and moral upbringing, and the involvement of children in liturgy and church life. He also assesses Christian attitudes toward children in the church's developing doctrinal commitments. Today, growing numbers of children are impoverished, exploited, abandoned, orphaned, or killed. Bakke's insightful work begins to untangle the roots of their complex plight."--Publisher description.

Contents

Children in the Greco-Roman world --; Patristic teaching about the nature of children and their characteristics --; Abortion, infanticide and expositio, and sexual relations between children and adults --; Making "athletes of Christ" : upbringing and education of children --; Children's participation in worship --; Children and a life of religious perfection --; Early Christians and the humanity of children.

External links

• [ Google Books]