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Summary: A classic worthy of the author of THE CUNNING OF HISTORY
Review: The "review" by Mr Riley (I really don't think he read the book) misses the point. Rubinstein is at pains to account for how the divisions between Christians, Jews and Muslims arose. One factor is the debate over the divinity of Jesus, a debate whose origins and course is brilliantly analyzed in the book under review. As for not picking up the stone, recall that it was medieval Christians who applied the blood libel against Jews, confined them to the ghetto (and locked them in at night), forced them to wear special clothing, and denied them employment opportunities and civil rights. The horrifying legacy of antisemitism and its effect in the twentieth century requires no further comment. Let's remember that it is Christians who owe the debt of forgiveness. Mr. Riley's sanctimonious pose as the righteous Gentile who is trying to prevent harm to others does not fool anybody.
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Summary: An engrossing and fascinating book
Review: I could not put this book down until I finished it; it is so well written and illuminating. What makes this book great is that it intertwines an incredibly told story with detailed and highly explicative information, the two of which make for what seems like a fiction-non fiction hybrid. This book is just plain fun, but also absorbing. Regardless of whether or not you are Christian it's a great read
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Summary: Fascinating, exciting, erudite.
Review: Rubenstein has written a wonderful, broad-reaching, scholarly and popular work."When Jesus Became God" is a tapestry, weaving together several disparate intellectual threads. It's a pellucid introduction to the cultural, political, and social dynamics of Late Antiquity; an historical drama of power, corruption, and violence; a framework for understanding why serious political and religious conflicts arise and too-often fail to resolve; and an intellectual (theological) history of high order. It's what Gore Vidal would have written, had he decided to write "Julian" as non-fiction. Bravo!
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Summary: what would jesus do?
Review: I have read much on this subject, but this book is an excellent synthesis of the events in their historical context. It has always amazed me how Jehovah, "God the Father" could essentially disappear in peoples lives...I never understood what all the "fuss" was about Mary...I never understood the sociopolitical motivations behind the two positions. How did Islam get so popular so fast? This book makes these things clear. Thanks Mr Rubenstein
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Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long long time
Review: It takes genius to make such cerebral material not only comprehensible but gripping to a Kansas housewife (such as myself). One of the best books I've read in a long, long time.
Rating: 
Summary: Rubenstein writes well
Review: Rubenstein writes elegantly about the politics and turmoil in the declining days of the Roman empire, of which the Arian controversy was just one small part. From a conflict resolution point of view, the editors cut too much theory and analysis to emphasize the storytelling. From a storytelling poing of view, the editors kept the story lively. This is an important story for Christians who want to understand the politics of their faith, and for those dealing with religious conflict today.
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Summary: Read this book to understand people, not Jesus!
Review: Written with a grace of style that makes this book hard to put down, When Jesus Became God is far more than a mere history of Christology. The question that drives Rubenstein's story is why would essentially reasonable people who share a belief in the divinity of Jesus turn to open conflict, dehumanization of their opponents and violence in support of their point of view concerning the exact nature of Christ's divinity? His chronicling of the Arian-Athanasian controversy is an engaging history that explores these questions: Why did the contestants believe that toleration of serious religious differences seems grossly negligent? What about the contest prompted the contestants to move from attempts at persuasion to attempts to defeat the other side? How and why was the contest really resolved? Anyone who reads this book to answer questions of the essential nature of Christ's divinity will be disappointed for Rubenstein's story is not a theological disputation. Anyone who wonders why those of us who are less than divine are willing to take up arms in defense of the truth as we see it will be fascinated and enlightened by this book. Read it!
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Summary: A gripping, fascinating history with contemporary relevance
Review: When Jesus Became God illuminated an era for me. Rubenstein managed to convey an epic struggle, both between paganism and Christianity, and within Christianity. Christians were divided between those who saw Jesus as a man with whose holiness and kinship to God elevated him and made him a model for mankind and those who saw him as wholly divine. Arius and his followers felt that the humanity of Jesus brought him closer to them--wheras Athanasius and his followers believed this view of Jesus was heresy. This book conveys the political struggles between these bishops and their allies, and between the bishops and emperors, and the religious struggle among priests, christian emperors, and laity to define the nature of Christ. As someone raised as a born-again Christian, I was amazed at how much controversy there was on the nature of Christ more than 300 years after the birth of Christianity--further, it was very interesting to read how engaged people were in the religious conflict of the time. They were engaged enough to have pitched street battles between mobs--Alexandrians took their religious conflicts seriously. I saw many parallels to religious and ethnic conflicts today. For example, persecutions by the Roman state divided those christians who tried to collaborate or flee and those who suffered--similar to the experience people of occupied countries in World War II, who faced similar problems after that conflict ended. Although not someone who normally reads books on religious topics, this was one I could not put down. This book is a page-turner--really vivid and alive. At the end, I had a deeper understanding of the roots of Christianity and the power of faith to change empires such as Rome.
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Summary: Prose of cinematic vividness
Review: Writing prose of cinematic vividness, Rubenstein is able to make the most abstruse theological debates of Christianity's first millennium come alive--and render them understandable!
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Summary: Historic events are refracted passing thru author's filter.
Review: Although it is a well-written book by a brilliant author, "When Jesus Became God" is simply another exhaustive attempt to avoid the underlying truth in order to "be right". Whether Jesus was divine or not, the message and example of Jesus was, and is, an undeniably accurate manifestation of God's love and desire for His people. If Jesus were with us in flesh, he would implore all his Jewish and Christian brothers and sisters to stop the debate and love one another as he loved us. Whether this is said in the past or present tense or "he" is capitalized or not is not important. The book never makes this key point, it simply continues the debate. How long will we continue to argue with one another instead of loving and accepting fully? Who will be the first to lay down his stone and forgive? By not picking up this book, you will avoid picking up the stone.
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