PAULINUS SOUNDS COOL: “One of [Peter] Brown’s ongoing themes is that the modern distinction between ‘popular religion’ and ‘high religion’ is an 18th century philosophy-of-religion idea which actively impedes understanding the early centuries of Christianity (and which may simply be false). Paulinus’s poetry and buildings were designed to teach and serve the people of his diocese, but not from a ‘separate’ kind of religious position in which religion was a tool for the control of the masses — he wanted them to share the friendship he had established with St. Felix.”

more

I seem to recall that Peter Brown’s most popular book is the only one of his I’ve read–his excellent biography of St. Augustine. Gotta read more of this guy.