The Last Pagan:  Julian the Apostate and the Death of the Ancient World  by
Adrian Murdoch  © 20008  Inner Traditions ISBN 978-1-59477-226-9456   260
pages Paperback $15.95 (U.S.)    $19.55 (Canada)

Who was the last pagan emperor of Rome?  When did he die?  What did his
contemporaries, and those who lived after him, think of him?  These are all
very basic questions.  And they are ones that Mr. Murdoch (a fellow of the
Royal Historical Society) answers in this enlightening and, more
importantly, easily readable book.  This is history told as biography, and
relies less on dates and places and more on perceptions and actions - both
those of the subject and those who wrote about him.

Although this is a book written for the general reading public, and not
particularly aimed at Pagan readership, it contains a wealth of information
concerning Pagan/Christian relations.  It also shows a number of concerns
expressed by Julian that are still valid today.  As an example, on page 141
Julian is quoted as saying (in a letter to a pagan priest) "It is
disgraceful that when no Jew has to beg and the impious Galileans support
not only their own poor but ours as well, all men will see that our people
lack aid from us."

The author points out that Julian's attempt to reinstate paganism as the
state religion of the Roman Empire was an uphill battle - the priesthood had
been decimated and fallen into a state of decline.  No attempt had been made
to set an example of proper behavior by the priesthood.  And, by the very
fact that Christianity stressed its exclusivity, it was far more unified
than the multitude of pagan faiths.  We need to remember that at that time,
as now, there was not one "pagan" religion.  There were various cults to
manifold deities, but no one council or authority to settle disputes or
organize a common response to a situation.  To add to the problems, a
follower of Christ could be found in any nation on earth, whereas most pagan
religions were nationalistic or, at most, cultural in their basis and
orientation.  You would not find a native of Mesopotamia worshipping
Jupiter, nor a Roman citizen worshipping Marduk.

To his credit, Julian forbade the use of violence against followers of
Christ.  He marginalized them, excluded them from teaching certain subjects,
and ordered restitution for the destruction of pagan temples and shrines,
but did not allow violence against anyone because of religious differences.

His reign was cut short (around 2 years) by his death in battle against the
Persians.  The circumstances have never been clear regarding that event.

How the world would have been different if he had lived long enough to make
his changes more permanent we will never know.  His reign was marked by
tolerance (in general) and could have inspired a more tolerant attitude
among all his subjects.

This is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it to everyone.