THE EARLY STAGES OF CHRISTIANITY - Laura Salah Nasrallah, Ancient Christians and the Power of Curses. Magic, Aesthetics, and Justice. Pp. xxii + 318, ills, colour pls. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024. Cased, £85, US110. ISBN: 978-1-009-40573-7. - Stanley Stowers, Christian Beginnings. A Study in Ancient Mediterranean Religion. Pp. viii + 316. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2024. Cased, £95. ISBN: 978-1-3995-1006-6.

Key Points

• The objective is to analyze the intersection of magic, aesthetics, and justice in early Christian contexts.
• Review of two scholarly works on early Christianity and ancient Mediterranean religions.
• Analysis of themes related to curses and their social implications.
• Comparative examination of aesthetic practices in early Christian communities.
• Barries on the power of curses in establishing community norms are evident.
• Cultural aesthetics significantly influenced expressions of justice in early Christianity.
• The role of magic is highlighted in shaping social and spiritual identities.