When Children Became People: The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity

Bakke paints a fascinating picture of childrens first real emergence as people against a backdrop of the ancient world. Using theological and social history research Bakke compares Greco-Roman and Christian attitudes toward abortion and child prostitution pedagogy and moral upbringing and the involvement of children in liturgy and church life. He also assesses Christian attitudes toward children in the churchs developing doctrinal commitments. Today growing numbers of children are impoverished exploited abandoned orphaned or killed. Bakkes insightful work begins to untangle the roots of their complex plight.