Divinazioni: Rileggere la Religione Tarda AnticaSerie
Questa serie si addentra nel ricco panorama della religione della tarda antichità, offrendo prospettive inedite sulla sua complessità e diversità. Esamina come testi e pratiche vennero riletti e reinterpretati durante un periodo di profonda trasformazione culturale e religiosa. Ogni volume presenta ricerche originali che illuminano le dinamiche interazioni tra diverse correnti religiose e tradizioni intellettuali. I lettori troveranno analisi stimolanti che approfondiscono la nostra comprensione di questa era cruciale.
Exploring the intersection of storytelling and legal discourse, this book delves into how narratives shape our understanding of law and justice. It examines various forms of legal storytelling, from court cases to personal accounts, highlighting the role of narrative in influencing legal outcomes and public perception. By analyzing the power of stories in legal contexts, the author reveals how they can both uphold and challenge societal norms, ultimately illustrating the complex relationship between law, culture, and morality.
Exploring the complex interplay between violence and religious belief during Late Antiquity, this book examines how faith influenced social dynamics, conflict, and identity. It delves into various religious communities and their responses to violence, highlighting the role of belief systems in shaping actions and justifications for conflict. Through historical analysis and case studies, it reveals the profound impact of religion on societal structures and personal motivations in a transformative era.
Christianity, Empire, and the Making of Religion in Late Antiquity Jeremy M. Schott "Jeremy M. Schott has done a masterful job of elucidating the points of connection--even debate--between Porphyry of Tyre, Lactantius, Constantine, and Eusebius. These men were the most prominent participants in the conversations, debates, and policies that guided Rome's transformations from pagan to Christian state. How their ideas respond to one another has, until now, not been satisfactorily mapped out."--Elizabeth Digeser, University of California, Santa Barbara In Christianity, Empire, and the Making of Religion in Late Antiquity, Jeremy M. Schott examines the ways in which conflicts between Christian and pagan intellectuals over religious, ethnic, and cultural identity contributed to the transformation of Roman imperial rhetoric and ideology in the early fourth century C.E. During this turbulent period, which began with Diocletian's persecution of the Christians and ended with Constantine's assumption of sole rule and the consolidation of a new Christian empire, Christian apologists and anti-Christian polemicists launched a number of literary salvos in a battle for the minds and souls of the empire. Schott focuses on the works of the Platonist philosopher and anti- Christian polemicist Porphyry of Tyre and his Christian respondents: the Latin rhetorician Lactantius, Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, and the emperor Constantine. Previous scholarship has tended to narrate the Christianization of the empire in terms of a new religion's penetration and conquest of classical culture and society. The present work, in contrast, seeks to suspend the static, essentializing conceptualizations of religious identity that lie behind many studies of social and political change in late antiquity in order to investigate the processes through which Christian and pagan identities were constructed. Drawing on the insights of postcolonial discourse analysis, Schott argues that the production of Christian identity and, in turn, the construction of a Christian imperial discourse were intimately and inseparably linked to the broader politics of Roman imperialism. Jeremy M. Schott teaches religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Divinations: Rereading Late Ancient Religion 2008 | 272 pages | 6 x 9 ISBN 978-0-8122-4092-4 | Cloth | $65.00s | £42.50 ISBN 978-0-8122-0346-2 | Ebook | $65.00s | £42.50 World Rights | History, Religion Short copy: In Christianity, Empire, and the Making of Religion in Late Antiquity, Jeremy M. Schott examines the ways in which conflicts between Christian and pagan intellectuals over religious, ethnic, and cultural identity contributed to the transformation of Roman imperial rhetoric and ideology in the early fourth century C.E. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction: Identity Politics in the Later Roman Empire Chapter 1. Philosophers, Apologists, and Empire Chapter 2. Porphyry on Greeks, Christians, and Others Chapter 3. Vera Religio and Falsae Religiones: Lactantius's Divine Institutes Chapter 4. What Difference Does an Emperor Make? Apologetics and Imperial Ideology in Constantine's Oration to the Saints and Imperial Letters Chapter 5. From Hebrew Wisdom to Christian Hegemony: Eusebius of Caesarea's Apologetics and Panegyrics Epilogue: Empire's Palimpsest Appendix: Porphyry's Polemics and the Great Persecution List of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments
The book delves into early Christian texts from the first to fifth centuries, examining how Church fathers employed sexual slander against Jews. It highlights the portrayal of Jewish sexuality, marked by accusations of fleshliness, bestiality, and licentiousness. These representations served as a means to establish a distinction between the "spiritual" Christian and the "carnal" Jew, shedding light on the intersection of religion, sexuality, and identity during this historical period.
The earliest and largest corpus of Christian writings on Islam was written in
the Aramaic dialect of Syriac. Envisioning Islam shows how these previously
neglected texts problematize modern perceptions of an exclusively hostile
Christian reaction to Islam and revolutionize our understanding of the early
Islamic world.
Encourages us to see historic Christianity as but one expression of a
universalistic potential in Jewish monotheism. . . . In a fruitful career not
yet nearly over, Border Lines, the culmination of many years of work, may well
remain Daniel Boyarin's masterpiece.-Jack Miles, Commonweal
Focusing on early Christian perspectives, the book examines how writing was perceived as a form of worship and a path to salvation. Through insights from comparative literature, ritual studies, and the history of asceticism, it reveals the transformative power of artistic expression in the context of faith. Derek Krueger delves into the motivations and beliefs of early Christian writers, highlighting the intersection of creativity and spirituality in their works.
Why did early Christians claim their otherness as resident aliens, strangers,
and sojourners so vocally? Aliens and Sojourners explores the markedly
different ways that Christians used the rhetoric of their own marginality in
order to variously situate Christian identity in relation to the ancient Roman
world.
Daniel Boyarin, a prominent scholar in Talmudic culture, explores the intersections of Judaism and Christianity in his works. His expertise is reflected in his many publications, including "Border Lines: The Partition of Judaeo-Christianity," where he delves into the complexities of religious identities. His academic background at the University of California, Berkeley, underscores his authority in the field, making his insights valuable for understanding the historical and cultural dynamics between these faiths.
The book offers a fresh and imaginative interpretation of the development of Christianity and Judaism, presenting a creative analysis that delves into their historical emergence. It challenges traditional perspectives and invites readers to explore the intricate relationship between these two faiths, highlighting their shared roots and distinct paths. Through engaging insights, the author encourages a deeper understanding of their theological and cultural contexts.
Stephen J. Shoemaker investigates contradictory traditions about the end of
Muhammad's life in the Islamic and non-Islamic sources of the seventh and
eighth centuries.
Azzan Yadin-Israel, an Associate Professor at Rutgers University, explores the intersections of Jewish Studies and Classics in his scholarly work. He is recognized for his previous publication, "Scripture as Logos: Rabbi Israel and the Origins of Midrash," which delves into the foundational aspects of Midrashic literature. His expertise enriches the academic discourse on Jewish textual traditions and their historical contexts.
The book critically examines traditional views of hagiography, particularly the interpretation of ascetic desire as merely a repressed form of sexuality or a negative attitude towards the body. Through a thought-provoking analysis, it aims to redefine the understanding of asceticism, suggesting that these desires hold deeper significance beyond mere pathology. The work is both intellectually stimulating and significant in its challenge to established narratives, making it a vital contribution to theological studies.
The Iranian Talmud reexamines the Babylonian Talmud-one of Judaism's most
central texts-in the light of Persian literature and culture, providing an
unprecedented and accessible overview to the vibrant world of pre-Islamic Iran
that shaped the Bavli.
Focusing on the shared vocabulary of images and ideas with which late ancient
Christians and Muslims imagined the past, present, and future, this book seeks
to understand why violent expressions of religious devotion became central to
the self-understandings of Christian and Muslim communities between the fourth
and ninth centuries.
Dina Stein, a faculty member at the University of Haifa, specializes in Hebrew and Comparative Literature. She brings a folkloristic lens to her work, as evidenced by her previous publication, which explores the narratives and themes within Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer. Her expertise combines literary analysis with cultural insights, enriching the understanding of Jewish texts and folklore.
Exploring the intersection of monastic life and bodily experiences, this work delves into how physicality influences spiritual practices within monastic communities. It examines the rituals, daily routines, and the sensory aspects of monastic existence, shedding light on how these elements shape identity and community. Through a blend of historical and contemporary perspectives, the book offers insights into the transformative power of the body in religious contexts, highlighting the complexities of faith, discipline, and the human experience.
Derek Krueger, a prominent Religious Studies professor, explores the intersection of writing and spirituality in his work. His research delves into the practices of authorship in the early Christian East, highlighting how writing served as a means of expressing holiness and religious identity. This scholarly examination offers insights into the cultural and historical contexts that shaped early Christian literature and its authors.
The author, a Professor of Theology and an expert in Orthodox Christian Studies, explores the concept of spiritual direction in the early Church. Drawing on historical insights, he presents five distinct models that illuminate how early Christians guided one another in their spiritual journeys. This work offers a scholarly perspective on the practices and teachings that shaped spiritual mentorship in early Christianity, making it a valuable resource for those interested in theological studies and church history.
The author, a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Oregon, explores the historical and religious significance of the Virgin Mary's Dormition and Assumption in his work. His expertise in ancient traditions provides a scholarly perspective on these pivotal events in Christian theology, shedding light on their cultural and spiritual implications.
Focusing on saintly human bodies as relics, animated icons, and performers of
the holy in hagiography, this book analyzes how Christians in late antiquity
saw the material world with new eyes as a medium for the disclosure of the
divine in the earthly realm.
