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This research project focuses on Christianity from its origins to the early third century . In this period , several elements of Mount's model seem to manifest themselves in varying degrees . During the course of this study it will be seen that the nascent Church did , in many respects , adopt a hostile stance toward the famil broadly defined , as an institution representing a vehicle for the perpetuation of traditional society . It will also be seen that the Christian community developed its own models of what Mount would call "pseudo -families ." By making such propositions as "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother , and sister , and mother ,"^^ Jesus is portrayed as offering an altemative model to the traditional family . As time passed , Christianity gained wider social acceptance . The apologists would portray the Christian community as meriting acceptance because of its adherence to (many ) traditional family values . At such a point , however . Mount's paradigm would predict that any effort to promote such "pseudofamilies" would collapse , a scenario more difficult to sustain on the basis of the evidence examined here . In any case . Mount's arguments offer a dynamic perspective from which to view the early Church and the social institution of the family . |
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