The Matter of the Gods

The Matter of the Gods

Religion and the Roman Empire

by Clifford Ando

Part of Transformation of the Classical Heritage

Join Readfeed freeFind clubs reading this
Rate this book:

Browse books you can read free on Readfeed

No club is reading this yet — be the first to start one

2 readers worldwide want to read this book

Start a club free
About
What did the Romans know about their gods? Why did they perform the rituals of their religion, and what motivated them to change those rituals? To these questions Clifford Ando proposes simple answers: In contrast to ancient Christians, who had faith, Romans had knowledge, and their knowledge was empirical in orientation. In other words, the Romans acquired knowledge of the gods through observation of the world, and their rituals were maintained or modified in light of what they learned. After a preface and opening chapters that lay out this argument about knowledge and place it in context, The Matter of the Gods pursues a variety of themes essential to the study of religion in history.

Discuss The Matter of the Gods with other readers

Join or start a book club for The Matter of the Gods on Readfeed. Live chat, shared reading progress, and AI discussion questions — free to get started.

Sign up freeBrowse book clubs

Frequently asked questions

How do I join a book club for The Matter of the Gods?

Sign up free on Readfeed, then browse public clubs or start your own club with The Matter of the Gods as the current read. Invite friends with a share link and discuss together with live chat and AI discussion questions.

Can I discuss The Matter of the Gods with other readers online?

Yes. Readfeed book clubs let you chat live, share progress, and join discussions about The Matter of the Gods with readers worldwide — whether your club is virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

Is Readfeed free?

Yes. Creating an account and joining book clubs is free. Sign up to find readers who love the same books and start discussing today.