---
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title: "Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History"
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# Top #35 in History of Judaism 780+ reviews, 4.6⭐ avg Covers 2000+ years of history Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History

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## Summary

> 📖 Unlock the untold truths of faith, power, and history—don’t miss the conversation shaping tomorrow.

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## Key Features

- • **Provokes Thought & Dialogue:** Challenges readers to confront religious intolerance and envision reconciliation.
- • **Unflinching Historical Insight:** Explores complex Church-Jewish relations from Constantine to Vatican II with critical analysis.
- • **Highly Rated & Widely Discussed:** 4.6-star average from 780+ reviews, sparking passionate debate and reflection.
- • **Scholarly Depth Meets Personal Quest:** A monumental, footnoted historical study blending rigorous research with heartfelt narrative.
- • **Essential for History & Ethics Enthusiasts:** Ranks top #35 in History of Judaism—perfect for professionals seeking nuanced understanding.

## Overview

James Carroll’s 'Constantine's Sword' is a critically acclaimed, deeply researched paperback tracing 2000+ years of Catholic Church and Jewish history. Combining scholarly rigor with personal narrative, it challenges readers to rethink religious intolerance and promotes dialogue. With over 780 reviews averaging 4.6 stars and top rankings in religious history categories, this book is a must-read for professionals seeking profound historical and ethical insights.

## Description

Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History [Carroll, James] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History

Review: One of the most important books I have read. - I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the violent and tragic history of the Jews in a developing Christian Europe. This is a monumental work with an epiphany in every chapter. It is an outstanding scholarly effort and I thank and applaud Mr. Carroll for the years of effort he devoted to bringing it to us. The book is long and it is both an historical account and a personal quest for truth and meaning. As a child, the author was raised by a very devout Irish Catholic mother, who imbued him with a deep love of the Church and its teachings. Ultimately he became a Catholic priest. However, as he learned more history and, in particular, as he studied the events that led up to the slaughter of almost 6,000,000 European Jews under the leadership of Nazi Germany, with barely a word of opposition by the Catholic Church, he came to question many of his fundamental understandings about the Church. How could it happen? What can the past tell us? What should we do for the future? In this great work, Mr. Carroll takes us from the life and death of Christ through the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the development of ghettos throughout Europe, the Nazi destruction, the healing efforts of Pope John XXIII, and down to his hope for a Vatican III conference that will, perhaps, take positive steps to eliminate some of the root causes of Christian-Jewish strife. The book is not an easy read. It starts as an essay on the Carmelite Cross at Auschwitz and then goes into his personal story. Then it turns into an interesting, though scholarly, footnoted historical study. He includes his personal observations and opinions on many historical points, which help to give meaning and context to the events described. However, it is necessary for the reader to be analytical and evaluative, separating fact from opinion, and history from personal quest. I had no trouble doing this, and in fact I gained a sense of Carroll's anguish over his efforts to reconcile his early faith with his more mature knowledge of the real world. On the other hand, if he wishes to gain greater readership, and perhaps have his book used as a college text, I would recommend that Mr. Carroll give us an edited and abridged version, perhaps with less emphasis on his personal quest. Still, for a person who is interested in the subject, the book is definitely worth reading. As I write this, I note that there are almost 300 reviews of this book. Of these, about 200 are extremely positive and almost 100 are extremely negative. I think this is a reflection of the passion that this subject arouses in many people. The most negative criticism is that the author has selectively included or excluded data to make his points. I urge you not to be put off by these negative comments. Any person who attempts to write a scholarly history must sift through a huge amount of data and decide what to include and what to emphasize. For his part, Carroll attempts to note and explain conflicting statements in some of the key Church pronouncements regarding the Jews. Other people, with other views, may choose different things to include and different points of emphasis. One must always read history (including, perhaps, the Bible) with a critical eye.
Review: Insightful and Provocative Exploration of Church History - "Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History" by James Carroll is a deeply insightful and thought-provoking examination of the complex relationship between the Catholic Church and Judaism throughout history. Carroll meticulously traces this relationship from its origins in the early Church to its profound impacts on religious and social dynamics today. What makes Carroll's work compelling is his ability to blend historical scholarship with personal narrative and moral inquiry. He confronts uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism within Christian history while also highlighting moments of dialogue and reconciliation. This nuanced approach challenges readers to reflect on the broader implications of religious intolerance and the quest for understanding across faith traditions. The book's strength lies in Carroll's engaging writing style and his commitment to uncovering lesser-known aspects of Church history. From the Council of Nicaea to the Vatican II reforms, each chapter offers a deep dive into pivotal moments that shaped Christian-Jewish relations. For anyone interested in the intersection of religion, history, and ethics, "Constantine's Sword" is an essential and enlightening read that leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommended.

## Features

- James Carroll, Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History, paperback

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #72,540 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #35 in History of Judaism #81 in History of Religions #142 in Christian Church History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 780 Reviews |

## Images

![Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81q0stwrGWL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the most important books I have read.
*by P***L on September 6, 2012*

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the violent and tragic history of the Jews in a developing Christian Europe. This is a monumental work with an epiphany in every chapter. It is an outstanding scholarly effort and I thank and applaud Mr. Carroll for the years of effort he devoted to bringing it to us. The book is long and it is both an historical account and a personal quest for truth and meaning. As a child, the author was raised by a very devout Irish Catholic mother, who imbued him with a deep love of the Church and its teachings. Ultimately he became a Catholic priest. However, as he learned more history and, in particular, as he studied the events that led up to the slaughter of almost 6,000,000 European Jews under the leadership of Nazi Germany, with barely a word of opposition by the Catholic Church, he came to question many of his fundamental understandings about the Church. How could it happen? What can the past tell us? What should we do for the future? In this great work, Mr. Carroll takes us from the life and death of Christ through the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the development of ghettos throughout Europe, the Nazi destruction, the healing efforts of Pope John XXIII, and down to his hope for a Vatican III conference that will, perhaps, take positive steps to eliminate some of the root causes of Christian-Jewish strife. The book is not an easy read. It starts as an essay on the Carmelite Cross at Auschwitz and then goes into his personal story. Then it turns into an interesting, though scholarly, footnoted historical study. He includes his personal observations and opinions on many historical points, which help to give meaning and context to the events described. However, it is necessary for the reader to be analytical and evaluative, separating fact from opinion, and history from personal quest. I had no trouble doing this, and in fact I gained a sense of Carroll's anguish over his efforts to reconcile his early faith with his more mature knowledge of the real world. On the other hand, if he wishes to gain greater readership, and perhaps have his book used as a college text, I would recommend that Mr. Carroll give us an edited and abridged version, perhaps with less emphasis on his personal quest. Still, for a person who is interested in the subject, the book is definitely worth reading. As I write this, I note that there are almost 300 reviews of this book. Of these, about 200 are extremely positive and almost 100 are extremely negative. I think this is a reflection of the passion that this subject arouses in many people. The most negative criticism is that the author has selectively included or excluded data to make his points. I urge you not to be put off by these negative comments. Any person who attempts to write a scholarly history must sift through a huge amount of data and decide what to include and what to emphasize. For his part, Carroll attempts to note and explain conflicting statements in some of the key Church pronouncements regarding the Jews. Other people, with other views, may choose different things to include and different points of emphasis. One must always read history (including, perhaps, the Bible) with a critical eye.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Insightful and Provocative Exploration of Church History
*by A***X on July 21, 2024*

"Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History" by James Carroll is a deeply insightful and thought-provoking examination of the complex relationship between the Catholic Church and Judaism throughout history. Carroll meticulously traces this relationship from its origins in the early Church to its profound impacts on religious and social dynamics today. What makes Carroll's work compelling is his ability to blend historical scholarship with personal narrative and moral inquiry. He confronts uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism within Christian history while also highlighting moments of dialogue and reconciliation. This nuanced approach challenges readers to reflect on the broader implications of religious intolerance and the quest for understanding across faith traditions. The book's strength lies in Carroll's engaging writing style and his commitment to uncovering lesser-known aspects of Church history. From the Council of Nicaea to the Vatican II reforms, each chapter offers a deep dive into pivotal moments that shaped Christian-Jewish relations. For anyone interested in the intersection of religion, history, and ethics, "Constantine's Sword" is an essential and enlightening read that leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommended.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Somewhat Flawed But Profoundly Informing Work
*by J***. on August 18, 2002*

First the "flaw": other reviewers have noted that interjecting his own personal religious journey is off-putting and I agree that it frequently is, but not always. I have always liked James Carroll's works and have read a lot of them. He and I share, in limited part, a similar background: my parents were "old school" Irish Catholics, and, while I enjoyed the company of the fair sex too much to consider the seminary, I was educated in high school and college by the Jesuits, for which I have always been very, very grateful. It was a superb process for those who wanted to study. Like him, I began to question the validity of the religion in which I had been raised, but a lawyer's lot does not often permit in depth study of subjects other than the law, so my questions remained that until health matters forced retirement about three years ago. Then books like De Rosa's "Vicars of Christ: The Dark Side of the Papacy", Morris' "American Catholic", "Unholy Trinity" by Aarons & Loftus, "Papal Sin" by Wills and "Hitler's Pope" by Cornwell led me to the understanding that there was a deep and established evil in Catholicism, especially in its "heirarchy". I was conflicted by the profound goodness of the Christian message to love one another in the context of a corrupt messenger - the Church. I had started Carroll's book, but set it aside to pursue Middle Eastern study in the light of September 11. So it slipped from mind for a while until I returned to it after the pederast priest scandal re-kindled my anger at the hypocrisy of Church politics.I was both pleased and surprised to find my questions concerning the Christian message vs Catholic corruption answered in the context of historical analysis. Yes, this books is concerned with determining why Catholicism (and other Christian faiths) have demonstrated consistent anti-semitism over the centuries, but for me, the satisfaction was derived from understanding how an essentially medieval institution got to be that way, and why it refuses to change. I was able to see how this medieval mind set was responsible, through the 4th Lateran Council (1215 CE), for the establishment of doctrine which the Church still clings to today, in the face of clear and known error in its bases, and how that docrine led to such truly monstrous events as the Crusades and the Inquisition. Carroll is informed and lucid in showing how fears for the survival of an institution based on beliefs premised on medieval concepts in the light of scientific, philosophical and political change caused a frightened Pope Pius IX to promulgate the concept of papal infallibility. And he, at least, has a vision of a changed Church coming into harmony with modern times, although I am far less sanguine about the possibilty of meaningful change in an institution whose well established power base is cemented into middle ages philosophical concepts. I do agree wholeheartedly with his conclusion that Christ's purpose was revelation of God's message to love one another, rather than salvation. This is no book for "pray, pay and obey" Catholics, but for those who, like Carroll and me, have become disenchanted by that "old time religion", it provides accurate, although deeply troubling answers to questions about why things are as they are. I did not mind sharing Carroll's own quest, because it provided some help as to how he internalized what he learned, but a little less of this distraction from the historical analysis would have been better for this reader. This is a well researched and well written book, and further illustrates the frequently upsetting rightness of the concept that "the truth shall set you free".

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*Last updated: 2026-01-26*