The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity: A Sociohistorical Approach to Religious Transformation

I'm still reading the book (I have the last chapter and conclusion to go) so take this as you will.It's a good book; the premise is clearly stated and the author goes through supporting evidence, and I think he does a good job with it. Most readers will buy it for the second half, where Russell sets out to discuss the changes that Christianity saw when it expanded into continental areas, and he does so admirably. My main reason for buying this book was the first half, though, where Russell outlines his theory of religious transformation, both in the institutions of the religion, as well as the culture in general. I've already been able to pull out several quotes of his for my own dissertation. It's an acceptable theory, though somewhat dated in today's anthropology; it relies a bit too heavily on early- to mid- 20th century thinking and ignores post-modern critiques.Russell's history is good, even if it angers some believers. (I've read several critiques of this book, mostly from those authors who approach it as a "history of the Church" view, and I disagree with most of them. Many critiques seem to stem from uncritical assumptions concerning the history of institutionalized Christianity, and a belief in a divinely inspired Truth(tm) as espoused by that Christianity. Ironically enough, their critiques ignore the fact that Russell also seems to uncritically accept Church history as written by Church members.)I do wish he would have utilized more evidence from archaeology, which he seems to have ignored for the most part (at least up until the last chapter). It may have provided a more comprehensive view of ritual, as opposed to religious belief, that would have provided a fuller discussion of the evolution of religious practices during the period.Finally, at least for me, the book reads a bit repetitively. There are at least 3 or 4 times a chapter where I stop, and think that he already made that point. Much of it reads like it's very well written free flowing stream-of-consciousness writing. There are no sub-headings, no divisions below the chapter level. It's a bit off-putting to me, since everything I've ever read academically has had numerous sub-headings (perhaps too many) covering every point. Keep that in mind, and expect to encounter some difficulty in finding natural stopping points between his various topics.

An important topic, the author is knowledgeable, but the first half of the volume lays out his general anthropological theory about religion and was, for my taste, overblown and excessive. I know, though, this is modern academia.

In the "Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity," James Russell argues that the conversion of the Germanic tribes, over the course of centuries, from roughly 400 AD down until 800 AD, resulted in a fundamental transformation of Christianity. The book could be subtitled "Contra Nietzsche," for Russell carves-out a grand exception to Nietzsche's portrayal of Christianity as "slave morality." Stated differently, and more baldy than Russell would, the process of "Germanization" amounted to a reversal of early Christian values.Russell identifies the cult of saints, sacral kingship & crusades, proprietary churches, and a dramatic-representational liturgical form as examples of "Germanization." But his argument is at the level of paradigms, not empirical history as such. He maintains that a heroic, world-accepting, folk-centered reinterpretation of Christianity emerged, displacing the early version of Christianity which was world-rejecting & universalist, urban & anomic & soteriological. "As a consequence of the religio-political influence of the Ottonian emperors in Rome during the tenth and eleventh centuries, this Germanic reinterpretation eventually became *normative* throughout western Christendom." The Gothic cathedral would be its ultimate artistic expression.The question thus arises, which Christianity is the real Christianity? The primitive church, which all later reform movements would seek to restore in one way or another--from the mendicant orders down through the Protestant Reformation and the Second Vatican Council--or the Germanized version? A better question might be, which Christianity is better able to resist Islam?Russell's thesis is of the utmost relevance to the spiritual-political situation in today's Europe, where the prospect of city-to-city, street-to-street, house-to-house warfare against Islam is imminent. In contrast to such leading thinkers of the Right as Alain de Benoist, who in matters of religion seem to do little more than adopt the quietist position of the late Heidegger, in essence waiting for new pagan gods to save us, the implication of Russell's argument is that a "counter reformed" Christianity is the only real option if Europe's defenders are to have spiritual resources.Also, Russell's discussion of "Hellenization" in the first half of the book is fascinating, wherein the expansion of Greece (and later Rome) entailed the loss of Indo-European identity. The conversion of the German barbarians, in a mirror-image ruse, brought with it a reassertion of the Indo-European, albeit on a higher & more chivalrous plane

Christianity becomes a heroic contender in the worlds religions as it passes through the Germanic psyche, becoming a religion of sacrifice, charity, and fighting spirit!

Fantastic and well-detailed book that I would highly recommend to any library of lovers of history, heathens, or anyone interested in historical conversion from a religious viewpoint. I have referred to this book often, and have recommended it to more than a few friends.

Really explains the misplaced "Warrior Mentality" within the Christian Religion. Also shows how the "New Faith" was used to subjugate the Germanic Tribes yet could not irradicate the Old Faiths and ended up unintentionally usurping and warping much of the Old Lore. A must read for any serious student of the PreChristian Religions and their effects on Christianity.

Within four days after ordering I received this item (Gasselte, The Netherlands).This book is a true eyeopener. I think no one could recognize Christianity now,if there had not been Germanization then in the days of conversion of North Western Europe. Also I never realized that the concept of sin and guilty was unknown in these regions, as well as the idea of eternal salvation. And for the first time I discovered how feodalism came to existence. I owe much to this book.Ton Andringa

This book turned out to be a disappointingly inadequate treatment of its subject. The author seems to have made little study of Christianity in the late Roman Empire. He contrasts primitive first-century Christianity with Christianity as it displayed itself among the Germanic peoples after their conversion and attributes all the differences he discovers to accommodation of Christianity to Germanic culture. He never seems to have asked himself, let alone investigated, how far primitive Christianity had adapted to late Roman culture *before* it reached the Germanic tribes and how far that earlier acculturation was responsible for its appeal to the Germanic peoples and shaped its development among them.