A Pentecostal Reflection on Christianity and Extremism: Christianity and Book Burnings in the Late Antiquity

Abstract

This historiographical research sought to cognize why religious extremism has thrived globally through an enquiry into Christian book burnings in the late antiquities. The study posited that the ritual of book burning is a form of oppression and persecution exerted by intolerant religious fundamentalists in their pursuit to shape reading habits, exhume idolatry, and magic, and censure philosophical ideologies that challenge a religious belief through prohibition, control, and sanctions. The discussion established that Book burnings in the twenty-first century are religious radicalism and immoderation skewed towards a myopic dimension. Christian Book burnings throughout four historical periods were graphed to deduce the implications of the ritual in the historic-socio cultural setting. The study through historical, philosophical and critical analysis of the ritual attempted to demystify religious opinions which levy sanctions on others who have deviating ideas. The study acclaimed that the use of violence to drive a religious opinion in any context must be despised. The philosophical supposition of this study was founded on these principles: If God is indeed peaceful as His followers uphold, then he will act peaceably and fairly by deterring his devotees from brutishness purportedly intended to censure, chastise and obliterate nonbelievers and their belongings: Nonetheless, if some religious group uses violence to propel their religious impulses, it is barefaced that, they have lost touch with the God of peace, or have malevolently ignored the values of the God of peace. The study contributes to knowledge by probing into a primordial Christian ritual that is detrimental to the peace and sustainability desired in the twenty-first century to serve a piecemeal notice to all religious extremists to denounce excesses. Keywords: Religion, Extremism, Book Burning, Censorship, Late Antiquity, Pentecostalism.