This book IS, pace a recent previous reviewer, an anti-Catholic screed, a nasty, self-important diatribe of more than 750 pages against the Church and fundamental Christian doctrine. It seeks to revive the old and long-debunked myth about Christianity "causing" the Holocaust. In the process it distorts the history of the early Church, ignores the persecution of its adherents, and misrepresents its practices (including the importance of the symbol of the Cross long before Constantine, even in the Catacombs), its development of the Nicene Creed over a century, and its teaching (including the full divinity and humanity of Jesus). He also ignores the importance of the non-Christian Jews, not as passive victims of the early Church, but as strong competitors for adherents. His treatment of the medieval Church is no less distorted to fit the author's thesis, and characteristically blames the actions of certain Catholics on the Catholic Church, although, for instance, no pope or council ever authorized or proposed the killing of Jews. It describes the Crusades as a "necessary" outcome of a totalitarianizing culture, but here means not Islam, which had conquered the Christian lands of the Middle East, Spain, and North Africa and threatened the existence of Christian Europe, but Christianity. He distorts medieval theological debates and misrepresents its participants. His treatment of the Church in the 20th century is tendentious and one-sided, to say the least. In general, Carroll cites as authorities writers he agrees with and ignores others, along with the evidence and arguments that are inconvenient for his thesis.

This is an "ideological" history not only in that it is driven by its thesis while ignoring contrary evidence and argument. It also gives central importance to ideas, in particular those of the Church, as causing or leading to evil after evil over two millennia, especially those perpetrated against the Jews. As a result, his history is void of historical context or the economic and political forces that might explain, for example, why the Crusades happened when they did, or why the Holocaust did not happen before Hitler (or for that matter, why anti-Jewish racism, as distinct from religious bigotry, arose in the 19th century and peaked in the most secular of centuries, the period of Hitler and that other anti-Semitic mass murderer, Stalin).

This book is an expression of that most poisonous current of modern anti-Catholicism--the anti-Catholic "Catholic" who claims the name but rejects almost the whole of Catholic teaching, organization, and practice, and calls instead for a different religion more to his liking. And now the book has been made into a documentary, God help us!

How could a Christian nation have attempted the extermination of Judaism? Doesn't Christianity (a religion of love) preclude such activity? Was it the absence of true Christianity that permitted such deeds (as could be assumed by the many volumes devoted to social, political, and military circumstances)? Or is there some inherently anti-Semitic baggage in Christian history that needs to be confronted?

That search is the nature of this work. The author (best-selling author of `American Requiem') is a former priest who spent part of his childhood in postwar occupied Germany as the son an American General.

The text begins at a controversial cross erected by Carmelites at Auschwitz, progresses (and returns at times) to personal memories of a devout Catholic, and masterfully explores the uneasy (all too often deadly) two millennia history between Catholicism and it's parent. From Constantine's adoption of Christianity as the imperial religion (delivering on a promise made for military victory), all bets changed (former differences were subsequently frequently magnified for political-temporal convenience).

The cross is considered by Christians as an irrefutable holy symbol (and frequent touchstone of jewelers)--without the realization that (for others) it (especially the one erected at Auschwitz) can be symbol of oppression, let alone of oppression and summary execution (which is what it was under the Romans).

This work candidly explores an all-too-often tortured relationship between Christians and Judaism without pulling punches. Highly recommended. But beware, given the subject it is introspective, honest, and (consequently) sober.

I have just finished reading "Constantine's Sword." It a well written and thoughtful study of the history of the Christian Church (primarily Catholic Church) and its relationship to Judaism and Jews.
Both Catholics and Jews can benefit from reading this book. Mr. Carroll's explanation of the early history of the Church is most insightful, and answers many questions as to why there has been so much Christian misunderstanding and animosity through the ages toward Jews. It offers a sweeping and penetrating history.
I am sure that many Catholics will find this book disturbing. That is to be expected. But for Jews it is enlightening and only puts in detailed print that which was suspected and that which was well known.
Will there ever be a Vatican III as Mr. Carroll suggests is necessary? It will certainly take a man of supreme courage to accomplish that. That person has not achieved a position of power and authority yet.

I found the book interesting in that an avid Catholic (James Carroll) would write a book about the Catholic faith's role in early antisemitism. I found it refreshing that he also showed how many of the popes of the past were NOT antisemtic but tried to help the Jews. Is this book anti-Catholic? Absolutely not. It does show the flaws concerning it's role in antisemitism, but also shows how they are trying to heal the situation by accepting their responsibility and bringing reconciliation to the Jewish people.

As far as I know there are still crosses at Auschwitz. Carroll begins his book by describing a wooden one that was 20 feet high near Barracks 13, the starvation bunker. Pope John Paul II hoped for a place of prayer that could honor the quarter to half a million Catholics who died at Auschwitz. This wish was fulfilled in 1984 by a group of Carmelite nuns. Immediately Jewish protests went up to not Christianize Auschwitz. In response some Christians responded with screams such as "They killed Jesus."

Auschwitz is an example of theologies at odds with each other. For Christians Auschwitz is the Holocaust, a burnt offering. For Jews Auschwitz is the Shoah, the catastrophe. Shoah points toward the absence of God, the undoing of Creation. There is no meaning that can be given to what happened. Carroll raises the question of what the Cross of Jesus Christ can mean at Auschwitz. This is the beginning of what he calls "a journey across the geography of conscience."

Someplace toward the end of his journey Carroll would like to see a Vatican III. On Carroll's agenda of things to discuss are five items. The first is anti-Judaism in the New Testament. In the second, Carroll quotes Pope John Paul II: " Christians have too often denied the Gospel, yielding to a mentality of power." This is Constantine's sword. Third, Carroll wants to see a new Christology which reconciles the exclusive claims of Christianity with authentic respect for every other "spiritual neighbor." This would happen when the Church's fixation on the death of Jesus as the universal salvitic act comes to an end. Fourth, Carroll wants the Church to turn away from monarchy and toward democracy. And fifth, the Church should perform an act of penance in silence: the removal of all crosses from Auschwitz.

In simple terms, theology is reasoned discourse about God. On the human plane this means bring meaning to the events of history even if we call them chaos (because in articulating something we have defined it and given it meaning). For Carroll, Auschwitz was a spiritual journey which led him to ask his beloved Church to sincerely repent.

The length of this book is a drawback. It runs over 600 pages too much of which is Carroll's reflections on the same theme, the cross at Auschwitz. For example chapter 23 begins: "The cross at Auschwitz..." Carroll expressed his feelings about Auschwitz at the very beginning of his book and does so again and again to the point where I began skipping parts of the book. Also Carroll could have done a better of job of presenting the Catholic and Polish points of view. Finally I find myself wondering why Carroll wants the Church to change, but does not extend this expectation to all people. Mutual respect seems far better to me than one way respect.

Undoubtedly those who read through Carroll's well-organized work will find themselves a little wary of Christianity, and especially the Catholic Church. Carroll pulls no punches claiming that the New Testament, Church Doctrine and nearly everthing associated with Christianity as having become necessarily anti-semitic, even claiming that the "final solution" was an idea influenced by Christian theology.

However, he misses one huge point. There is a difference between anti-Judaism (persecution of Jews for religious reasons, i.e. not accepting Jesus) and anti-Semitism (persecution of Jews based on race, which is what Hitler and Nazi party did). Carroll just dismisses this difference early in the book as being superfluous. I think he misses the mark here, for the motivations that cause the conflict with the Jews is very different.

In addition, Carroll has the audacity to claim that common Christian notions of Jesus and Pauline theology are incorrect. Oh, but he seems to have all the answers. His attempts to rebuff 2000 years of intellectual history regarding these two (emphasizing the Jewishness of Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus?!?) ultimately fails. Moreover, he then goes on to say how Christians and especially Catholics have misinterpreted Old Testament texts and other sacred Jewish writings. But once again, he sweeps in from the heavens to save us from our uneducatedness. Too often Carroll asserts controversial beliefs and theories of his as objective truth, citing a footnote or two of an unconventional theologian or historian that would agree with him. I am sure that Christians and Jews alike don't appreciate for his cockiness in asserting biblical and theological truths of both religions.

Those whose goal it is to attack the Church will love this book and take what Carroll says as fact without questioning it. Others will find what he has to say regarding the Church-Jew relationship as beneficialm and significant, and he does a good job demonstrating the need for repair and dialouge in that relationship. But his historical and theological writings is full of unevident controversial claims and sophistic rhetoric about his personal life. As a whole, this book should not be taken as scholarly research, but more of a soul-searching book.

This book arrived in excellent condition, at a great price, and is a must read for all those who are interested in inter-faith issues.

What an eye-opener. This former Catholic priest tells all about the awful history of the Church and the Jews. The Passion, at its very heart, is de-bunked as a fiction. We understand how the New Testament was written hundreds of years after the event, only after the Romans and their threat to crucify ANYONE who spoke against them, were gone. this is a responsible, authoritative history based on massive research. Not an easy read; you will not get through many pages at each sitting without being moved to a passion of your own. Essential

Many months ago I purchased this book on a boring Sunday afternoon. Little did I know it would be a book that changed my life.James Carroll took me through a brave journey of his inner struggle to answer those baffling questions that all Christians have, but only few ever have the resolve to find an answer for.

As someone who knows many Jews having lived in South Florida, I have often wondered why they wouldn't take the step and accept Jesus as their Messiah and Saviour. Well, James Carroll took me through 2000 years of history to understand the interaction between these two great faiths of the Bible. Considering the Crusades, Inquisition, Pogroms, Exiles, Roman Ghetto's, forced conversions, and "blood libels," it's no wonder they aren't particularly keen on doing so. Furthermore, Mr. Carroll recognizes the almost ridiculous claims the New Testament writers make in their "history prophecized."

We all know the many axioms that I can quote regarding those who fail to understand history, and that's exactly what this book seeks to correct. It seems the vast majority of Christians I have known in my lifetime, never take the time to understand history other than what the Bible and C.S. Lewis care to disclose to them. The stories told by those "others" is that Christianity is not the fairy tale story it's made out to be by those you see on the Sunday pulpit.

Yet, when all is said and done, Mr. Carroll remains a believer, a believer who sees the Church for what it is. An archaic institution, much in need of reform, much in need to humble itself as it's followers are so explicitly instructed to do.

This book would not be what it is without the authors heartfelt story, his journey through these historical sights, both in the past with his mother, and present day with children.

I am proud to say I recently spoke to the man who is producing Constantine's Sword, the Movie. This will be a documentary style film about the book. One of the things he mentioned about the book, was that of it's many loyal readers and fans, many of them did not actually finish the book! It's my belief that many of those who criticize this book fall into this catagory. For if you would have finished it, you would see that Jim Carroll's story is a beautiful one. A story of struggle, confusion, despair, but ultimately of faith. There is no flaming for the shortcomings of the Church today and in years past, just simply a cry for reform, for it's what Christ really would have wanted. Not the fundamentalist mania we see in the world today.

Constantine's Sword is for me one of the more important books I have read on the subject of the Catholic Church and its relationship to the Jews. Not only is this book a scholarly work that is extremely well written and informative, but it is also honest and strait foreword. It does not embellish and it does not try to find excuses. On the contrary, it rather tries to find a solution that will change the church doctrine so as to correct injustices for a better future. As a religious Catholic, he feels the burden of his church's ill doing, and this book is, from what I understand- his confession.
It's a book everyone must read.

Renate
Artist. Poet & the author of
From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country

Constantine's Sword is for me one of the more important books I have read on the subject of the Catholic Church and its relationship to the Jews. Not only is this book a scholarly work that is extremely well written and informative, but it is also honest and strait foreword. It does not embellish and it does not try to find excuses. On the contrary, it rather tries to find a solution that will change the church doctrine so as to correct injustices for a better future. As a religious Catholic, he feels the burden of his church's ill doing, and this book is, from what I understand- his confession.
It's a book everyone must read.

Renate
Artist. Poet & the author of
From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country

Although written from a point of view that is more personal than necessary (and somewhat distracting), this is a magnificent piece of scholarship and a historical perspective that has crucial implications for the dilemmas that face the 21st century. As a Jew, displaced by the holocaust, who was raised as a Catholic (so I would not discover that I was a Jew) and as one highly educated in Christian theology and literature, I find Carrols history compelling, horrifying, compassionate, and tragic. Carroll shows how Jesus' teachings went from a profound spiritual revival that espoused humility, charity, and a respect for its Jewish origin to a tool of power that was dogmatic, intolerant, and a source of persecution and division, a theology that fostered the great divisions we now face between Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, and Fundamentalist), Judaism, and Islam. Carroll makes this indictment without bitterness toward his Catholic heritage but a desire to cleanse it from an abiding perversion of its original spirit. He shows how time and time again Christian history and doctrine might have evolved differently and compassionately if voices of tolerance had not been silenced. The fate of the Jews is only the most prominent atrocity that followed from Constantine's wrenching of Christianity away from a religion concerned with leading an exemplary life to one preoccupied with death, orthodoxy, and persecution of whatever beliefs fell outside its own. The flourishing of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam together in Spain during an age of prosperity and learning gives a suggestion of how different things might have been today without the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Counter-reformation and all the other episodes of vehement dogmatism that followed from the Council of Nicea.
Gregory T. Lombardo, MD, PhD

I think this book is best approached as a moral reflection on anti-Semitism in Christian history, rather than as a history per se. Understood in this way, Carroll's moving back and forth from present to past makes sense, although the autobiographical passages are still a little distracting at times. Carroll basically takes the argument of Elaine Pagels (in The Origin of Satan), that anti-Semitism emerged from the efforts of Christians to distinguish themselves from Jews through demonization, and follows it forward through history. He makes the intriguing argument that the adoption of the cross as the most important symbol of the faith at the time of Constantine was a critical point in Christian anti-Semitism because the cross symbolized an emphasis on the death of Christ, and therefore on the putative responsibility of the Jews for this death, rather than on Christ's life and teachings.

Carroll maintains that the movement from religious anti-Semitism to racial anti-Semitism was not a modern phenomenon, as many historians have claimed, but a phenomenon that can be traced back to the Inquisition. Racial anti-Semitism, in his view, was a paradoxical product of forced conversion. Ultimately, he argues that Christianity in general, and Catholicism in particular, over the long course of the centuries set the stage for the genocide of World War II.

I think this is a book of value to anyone concerned with anti-Semitism or the nature of group prejudice. This is not to say that the author's recommended responses to the long, sad history are realistic. Carroll's calls for the reform of the Catholic Church are radical, and they include a new Vatican Council, the adoption of a new Christology, and a democratic Church structure. The calls are so radical, in fact, that they essentially amount to a rejection of the entire Catholic tradition, and much of the mainstream Protestant tradition, as well.

The only reason I gave Mr. Carroll's book three stars is his bio on Constantine. This however was too short. His ramblings about his childhood and straying off the path just made the book hard to read. Yes, the Catholic chruch has the blood of innocent multitudes on it's hand, but then again so do all religions. One of the reason crimes have been commited against humanity is that religion isn't concerned about human rights. Mr Carroll misses this point entirely.