Theological Literacy in the Late Ancient Near East: Liturgical Catechesis and the Not-So-Simple Christian Believers of Roman Arabia

Contrary to the long-held assumption that rural Christians in Roman Arabia were theologically illiterate, archaeological evidence from sites like Umm Al-Jimāl reveals a high density of churches and robust participation in Christian worship, suggesting deep communal investment and doctrinal engagement. This study challenges the notion of 'simple believers' by analyzing liturgical texts and hymns, demonstrating that theological formation was rooted in embodied, participatory practices rather than written instruction. By shifting focus from patristic sources to archaeological and liturgical data, it presents a dynamic portrait of late antique Near Eastern Christianity, where even unlettered communities were active and doctrinally aware participants.

Shoemaker, S. J. (2024). Theological Literacy in the Late Ancient Near East: Liturgical Catechesis and the Not-So-Simple Christian Believers of Roman Arabia. Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies, 7(1-2), 85–112. https://doi.org/10.1353/joc.2024.a968627