09-04-2006, 06:35 AM
I don't remember if the Romans knew the Jews as atheists. The Romans were definitely at odds with Jewish culture. I always thought that the Jewish adherance to one god was disconcerting to the Romans. However, if the dualistic Yahweh theory is correct then that does undermine this. Of course if any Jew interfered with a Roman ritual then they would be called an atheist.
Michael Paglia
