The Birth of Christianity

In this Christmas episode of Honestly, Bari Weiss interviews Paula Fredriksen, a leading scholar of early Christianity, to explore the historical context of Jesus and the origins of Christianity. The conversation delves into the world Jesus was born into, the messianic expectations of the time, and how the early followers of Jesus transitioned from being a Jewish movement to a distinct religion. Fredriksen discusses the anti-Jewish sentiments that emerged and how they influenced Christian identity, as well as the modern echoes of these historical tensions, including the connection between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. The episode concludes with a discussion on the future of faith, the rise of strong ideologies, and the importance of social justice.