Dr Maijastina Kahlos is Academy Research Fellow in the Department of Classical Philology, University Of Helsinki, Finland.

Contents: Introduction; Constructing and deconstructing dichotomies; Debate, polemic and dialogue; Religio and superstitio; Ceremonies of light and dark; Gods and demons; Bibliography; Index.

This book explores the construction of Christian identity in fourth and fifth centuries through inventing, fabricating and sharpening binary oppositions. Such oppositions, for example Christians - pagans; truth - falsehood; the one true god - the multitude of demons; the right religion - superstition, served to create and reinforce the Christian self-identity. The author examines how the Christian argumentation against pagans was intertwined with self-perception and self-affirmation.