Christians in Iraq after the Muslim Conquest

Description

This brief introduction to the state of Christianity in Iraq during the ascendancy of Islam begins with a discussion of the friction between Christians and Magians. The political role of the church among the Sassanians, both internally and externally, is addressed. With the Islamic conquest various traditions circulated regarding the tolerance of Christianity within Muslim jurisdiction. Morony skillfully navigates these traditions, providing a plausible historical view. The formation of the Assyrian Church of the East’s doctrine and identity as well as their schools, monasteries, laws, and their sense of community and separateness are considered. The contrast with Monophysites with their “Nestorian” competitors rounds out the discussion. CHRISTIANS AND THE STATE: SASANIAN IRAQ CHRISTIANS AND THE STATE: ISLAMIC IRAQ FACTIONALISM: THE DYNAMICS OF CONTINUITY THE FORMATION OF THE NESTORIAN COMMUNITY: DOCTRINE AND IDENTITY THE FORMATION OF THE NESTORIAN COMMUNITY: SCHOOLS THE FORMATION OF THE NESTORIAN COMMUNITY: MONASTERIES THE FORMATION OF THE NESTORIAN COMMUNITY: LAW NESTORIANS: COMMUNAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE LIMITS OF SOCIAL BARRIERS MONOPHYSITES CONCLUSIONS