History of religion Books

Book SynopsisMagic, witches, and demons have drawn interest and fear throughout human history. In this comprehensive primary source reader, Martha Rampton traces the history of our fascination with magic and witchcraft from the first through to the seventeenth century. In over 80 readings presented chronologically, Rampton demonstrates how understandings of and reactions toward magic changed and developed over time, and how these ideas were influenced by various factors such as religion, science, and law. The wide-ranging texts emphasize social history and include early Merovingian law codes, the Picatrix, Lombard’s Sentences, The Golden Legend, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. By presenting a full spectrum of source types including hagiography, law codes, literature, and handbooks, this collection provides readers with a broad view of how magic was understood through the medieval and early modern eras.Rampton’s introduction to the voTrade Review"Anyone looking for significant attention paid to the medieval period, and especially the earlier medieval centuries, will find it here. And for the late medieval and early modern periods, its attention to different kinds of sources, especially its mix of literature and drama along with legal and demonological texts, is a welcome addition." -- Michael D. Bailey, Iowa State University * The Medieval Review *"For several decades now, magic and witchcraft have been the focus of scholarly attention, and Martha Rampton’s reader – a collection of primary texts that prepares the topic in all its breadth for use in the classroom – is a welcome addition. University of Toronto Press has to be thanked for providing teachers, students, and scholars alike with a rich and voluminous source-book, albeit less affordable than one might have hoped. European Magic and Witchcraft presents carefully selected texts, eighty-six examples from very different genres, from biblical times to the early modern period in chronological order. Some of these texts are famous and have had an enormous cultural impact, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Augustine’s City of God, while others are quite rare, such as Alferic of Eynsham (ca. 955–1010) or court records of the use of torture in early modern witchcraft trials." -- Sergius Kodera, University of Vienna * Renaissance and Reformation / Renaissance et Réforme *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Chapter One: Late Classical and Early Christian Archetypes 1. Moses and Aaron Challenge Pharaoh’s Magicians 2. The Pythoness Brings the Dead to Life: The Witch of Endor 3. Odysseus and Circe the Sorceress 4. Medea: The Classic Witch 5. Erictho: Divination through the Dead 6. Simon Magus: Money for Miracles 7. Goddess Diana of the Ephesians Bests the Apostle Paul 8. Hecate and the Chaldean Oracles 9. Magic Transforms One into a Bird, Another into an Ass 10. Justin Martyr and the Fallen Angels 11. The Apostle Peter Bests Simon Magus 12. Antony of the Desert Combats Demons 13. Curse Tablets and Binding Spells 14. Saint Martin Battles with Pagans and Demons 15. Augustine: Demons and Magic in the City of God Chapter Two: Post-Roman Kingdoms of Europe: Traffic with Demons (500–750) 16. Three Post-Roman Law Codes against Malicious Magic 17. Caesarius of Arles Preaches against Magic and Paganism 18. Continuity in Magic Spells 19. A Warning to Peasants about the Evils of Trafficking with Demons 20. Sorcery in Gregory of Tours’s Sixth-Century Gaul 21. Saint Patrick Battles Pagan Magicians 22. Early Medieval Sainthood and Demons: Saint Radegund 23. Isidore of Seville Defines Magic: The Etymologies 24. Penance for Sins of Magic 25. A Demoniac in Early Medieval England: Bede Chapter Three: The Carolingian Dynasty: Demons Cut Down to Size (750–1000) 26. An Eighth-Century List of Pagan Practices 27. Paganism of the Saxons 28. Beowulf Fights the Demons: Grendel, and Grendel’s Mother 29. Agobard of Lyons and Weather Magic 30. Carolingian Catalogue of Magical Acts: Council of Paris 31. Treatise on Magic: Hrabanus Maurus 32. Magic at the Court of Louis the Pious: Paschasius Radbertus 33. The Devil of Kempten and the Villager 34. Marriage and Magic: The Divorce of Lothar 35. Loosed Women and Night Flight: Canon episcopi 36. Anglo-Saxon Healing Cures and Charms 37. Anglo-Saxon Sermon against Augury: Aelfric of Eynsham 38. A Prayer to Mother Earth and Other Charms 39. An Eleventh-Century Penitential: Burchard of Worms Chapter Four: The High Middle Ages: Many Threads (1000–1300) 40. Evil Angels: Lombard’s Sentences 41. Divination and the Court: The Policraticus 42. Lanval and the Fairy Queen: Marie de France 43. The Gentle Werewolf: Marie de France 44. Guide for the Perplexed: Jewish Magic and Maimonides 45. Weather Well and Magic Ring: Chrétien de Troyes 46. Norse Magic: Saga of the Volsungs 47. Magic as a Cautionary Tale: Caesarius of Heisterbach 48. A Saintly Dog and the Changelings 49. Picatrix: Arabic Magic 50. Astronomy: Natural Magic or Necromancy? 51. The Golden Legend: Saints and Devils 52. Heresy versus Sorcery 53. A New Kind of Devil: Thomas Aquinas Chapter Five: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries: Diabolism 54. A Priest Dupes His Friend with a Promise of Magic in The Decameron 55. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 56. Key to Occult Mysteries of Solomon 57. Clerical Magic: A Handbook 58. A Warning to the People of Siena to Expunge Witches from the City 59. Trial of Joan of Arc 60. Witch Beliefs Coalesce: Formicarius 61. The Ordinal of Alchemy 62. Natural Magic and Renaissance Humanism: Oration on the Dignity of Man 63. Pope Innocent VIII Empowers the Inquisitors 64. The Witch Hammer Chapter Six: The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries: The Full Fury of the Witch-Hunts 65. Defending the Harvest: The Cult of the Benandanti 66. In Praise of Natural Magic: Cornelius Agrippa 67. Martin Luther’s Devil 68. Papists, Popedom, and Witchery: John Calvin 69. A Voice of Skepticism from the Medical Profession: Johann Weyer 70. Witch Persecutions in Trier 71. Charms, Tricks, and Day-to-Day Sorcery 72. Demon Mania in France: Jean Bodin 73. Mechanics of Torture: Dr. Fian and Suzanne Gaudry 74. King James and the Witches of North Berwick: “News from Scotland” 75. Skepticism and a Forced Recantation 76. King James I of England: Treatise on Demons and Witchcraft 77. A Midsummer Night’s Dream 78. Shakespeare’s Witches: Macbeth 79. A Jacobean Comedy 80. The Witches’ Sabbath 81. Persecution of the Burgomaster of Bamberg 82. The Witches of Würzburg 83. Witch Panic in Bonn 84. In Defense of the Accused 85. The Demonic Possession of the Nuns of Loudun 86. England’s Witch Finder General Sources Index of Topics

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Book SynopsisThe life and legacy of one of Mohammad’s closest confidants and Islam’s patron saint: Ali ibn Abi TalibTrade Review“Ali was a hugely gifted thinker and speaker, one of the earliest scribes and something of a poet. But it is hard to be objective about him. The evidence is often contradictory and he is shrouded by accretions, pious and otherwise. In The Prophet's Heir, Hassan Abbas - an enthusiast for his subject, and an objective enthusiast - pursues Ali on the ground. Fantastic.“—Tim Mackintosh-Smith, author of Arabs“An erudite and accessible biography of Ali, one that tells his life story, and discusses his teachings and values, and how his legacy continues to loom large over Muslim world.”—Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival"This erudite but readable book shows why the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law Ali is central to Islam today, and should be both an inspiration and a figure for reconciliation."—John McHugo, author of A Concise History of Sunnis & Shi'is

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Book SynopsisA New York Times bestselling scholar’s illuminating exploration of the earliest Christian narrated journeys to heaven and hellTrade ReviewNamed by the New Yorker as a Best Book of 2022 “[An] illuminating deep dive. . . . An edifying origin story for contemporary Christian conceptions of the afterlife.”—Publishers Weekly “When the late rapper 2Pac argued in song that we on earth are probably in hell already but don’t know it, and that a crackhead is right now suffering ‘eternal fire,’ he was grappling with weighty biblical and theological issues taken up by Bart D. Ehrman in his brilliant and provocative book Journeys to Heaven and Hell. Ehrman’s work richly informs us about how visions and tours of the afterlife shape our before-death existence—what we should do with our purse, our person, our proselytizing, and how we should view the power and politics of God. This wise and insightful tome by an erstwhile believer, and one of my absolute favorite biblical scholars, stimulates the mind and charges the spirit of a hopeful Black evangelical like me.”—Michael Eric Dyson, author of Entertaining Race: Performing Blackness in America “Bart D. Ehrman explores the Greco-Roman background of Christian afterlife and provides a much-needed reassessment of its Jewish apocalyptic roots. This is an extremely well-documented and well-written book, a real intellectual pleasure to read.”—Pierluigi Piovanelli, University of Ottawa and École pratique des hautes études “In a characteristically scholarly yet engaging style, Bart Ehrman shines new light on ancient accounts of visits by the living to the realms of the dead. This is an important contribution to the reevaluation of the rich literary heritage of early Christianity.”—Judith Lieu, University of Cambridge “In Journeys to Heaven and Hell, Ehrman examines a range of apocryphal texts related to the afterlife, but his examinations of such issues as the ethical problem of wealth, conversion, and universal salvation reveal how much the study of these journeys to other worlds can contribute to the study of a wide range of areas of interest in this world.”—Tony Burke, editor of New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures

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Book SynopsisOn Morals or Concerning Education is a manual of proper living and ethical guidance and the importance of education by the prolific late-Byzantine author and statesman Theodore Metochites. This volume provides the full Byzantine Greek text alongside the first English translation of one of Metochites’s longest works.

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Book SynopsisA deeper understanding of the grand history of mission leads to a faithful expression of God's mission today. From the beginning, God's mission has been carried out by people sent around the world. From Abraham to Jesus, the thread that weaves its way throughout Scripture is a God who sends his people across the world, proclaiming his kingdom. As the world has evolved, Christian mission continues to be a foundational tradition in the church. In this one-volume textbook, Edward Smither weaves together a comprehensive history of Christian mission, from the apostles to the modern church. In each era, he focuses on the people sent by God to the ends of the earth, while also describing the cultural context they encountered. Smither highlights the continuity and development across thousands of years of global mission.

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Book SynopsisIn this clear, compelling call to reformation, Michael Reeves helps believers reject pharisaism and embrace gospel integrity through biblical revelation, redemption, and regeneration.

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Book SynopsisA 'big' book with a bold new idea: Paul's gospel with its inclusion of the Gentiles directly relates to the salvation of Israel promised in the Hebrew Bible. Providing a better understanding of the 'parting of the ways' between Christianity and Judaism, the book boldly transforms understandings of Christian origins.Trade Review'Staples urges his novel interpretation of Paul with energy, patience, and conviction - leavened periodically with both wit and humor. His work puts a challenge to most current Pauline scholarship of whatever persuasion. It is a fitting follow up to The Idea of Israel, in many ways Part II: Paul's Idea of Israel. And it represents an original and bracing reading of Paul.' Paul Fredrickson, Boston UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction: Jews, former Gentiles, Israelites; 1. The God of Jews only?; 2. Paul and the Israel problem; 3. The Israel problem and the Gentiles; 4. Salvation through justification: Jews and Gentiles alike; 5. 'Not My People': Israel's infidelity and God's fidelity; 6. God's justice and the end of the Torah; 7. The mystery of Israel's salvation; 8. The end of the matter.

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Book SynopsisA re-evaluation of the mysterious "charms" found in Anglo-Saxon literature, arguing for their place in mainstream Christian rites. Since its inception in the nineteenth century, the genre of Anglo-Saxon charms has drawn the attention of many scholars and appealed to enthusiasts of magic, paganism, and popular religion. Their Christian nature has been widely acknowledged in recent years, but their position within mainstream liturgical traditions has not yet been fully recognised. In this book, Ciaran Arthur undertakes a wide-ranging investigation of the genre to better understand how early English ecclesiastics perceived these rituals and why they included them in manuscripts were written in high-status minsters. Evidence from the entire corpus of Old English, various surviving manuscript sources, and rich Christian theological traditions suggests that contemporary scribes and compilers did not perceive "charms" as anything other than Christian rituals that belonged to diverse, mainstream liturgical practices. The book thus challenges the notion that there was any such thing as an Anglo-Saxon "charm", and offers alternative interpretations of these texts as creative para-liturgical rituals or liturgical rites, which testify to the diversity of early medieval English Christianity. When considered in their contemporary ecclesiastical and philosophical contexts, even the most enigmatic rituals, previously dismissed as mere "gibberish", begin to emerge as secret, deliberately obscured texts with hidden spiritual meaning.Trade ReviewThe book represents a major advance to our knowledge about Anglo-Saxon ritual practice, for Arthur's study permits us now to take charms and secret writing seriously as much for their theological and devotional depth as for their popular significance. Rare is the event - and to be celebrated - when one comes across a book that opens up an entire genre for new appreciation -- EARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPECiaran Arthur's overview of this fascinating corpus of literature, with each example scrutinized in its manuscript context and set against the background of a learned Latinate tradition, contributes much to our understanding of the relations between magic and liturgy in late Anglo-Saxon England. * SPECULUM *Scholars and students of Anglo-Saxon England will find this book an invaluable re-assessment of many of the Anglo-Saxon texts that have been labelled `charms', and it will also interest scholars concerned with folklore more generally. * ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW *Provocative and erudite [its] arguments are consistently stimulating, discerning, and persuasive. This book makes a major contribution to knowledge, as it sheds an enormous amount of light on the least well-understood corpus of writings from Anglo-Saxon England. * ANGLIA *[F]or researchers focusing on the belief systems of early medieval England, or of early medieval Europe more broadly, this must be very strongly recommended. Any university library with a collection on medieval religion needs to obtain a copy. * READING RELIGION *Table of ContentsIntroduction Kill or Cure: Anglo-Saxon Understandings of Galdor By the Power Vested in Me: Galdor in Authorised Rituals Ite Missa Est: The Liturgical Nature of 'Charms' Crops and Robbers: A Case Study of the Vitellius Psalter In the Beginning Was the Letter: The Cosmological Power of 'Gibberish' Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA path-breaking scholar's insightful reexamination of the resurrection of the body and the construction of the self When people talk about the resurrection they often assume that the bodies in the afterlife will be perfect. But which version of our bodies gets resurrectedyoung or old, healthy or sick, real-to-life or idealized? What bodily qualities must be recast in heaven for a body to qualify as both ours and heavenly? The resurrection is one of the foundational statements of Christian theology, but when it comes to the New Testament only a handful of passages helps us answer the question What will those bodies be like? More problematically, the selection and interpretation of these texts are grounded in assumptions about the kinds of earthly bodies that are most desirable. Drawing upon previously unexplored evidence in ancient medicine, philosophy, and culture, this illuminating book both revisits central textssuch as the resurrection of Jesusand mines virtually ignored passages Trade Review"[An] excellent new book"—The Catholic Herald“In this informed, witty, and provocative study… Professor Moss presents a timely challenge to modern sense and sensibilities.”—John Saxbee, Church Times“There is a tremendous wealth of learning and reflection in the short 200 pages of this book…Definitely one to read.”—Matthew V. Novenson, Journal for the Study of the New Testament“Why does Christianity see bodily resurrection as salvation? How do ideas about embodied eternity encode time-bound cultural values concerning health, wealth, beauty, sex, and self? Candida Moss’s lithe essay investigates all these questions with lively erudition, with humor and with insight. Divine Bodies is divine reading.”—Paula Fredriksen, author of When Christians Were Jews“With enormous learning and gentle sensitivity Candida Moss explores the intricate pathways of the Christian imagination. In the process she skillfully and insightfully reveals the complex ironies of a hoped for future life and the ways it often mirrors an unexamined present.”—Harold W. Attridge, Yale Divinity School“Are our bodies ourselves? Candida Moss shows how culturally constructed notions of human perfection and beauty have shaped New Testament passages about the resurrected body—and modern biblical scholarship as well. A thought-provoking work of intellectual and cultural history.“—David Brakke, The Ohio State University“This fresh, careful study will change our classical images of bodily resurrection. Shining new light on both well-known texts and more neglected sources, Candida Moss shows how earthly disabilities are an integral part of resurrected, glorified bodies.”—Christoph Markschies, Humboldt-University Berlin“In this thought-provoking book, Candida Moss invites readers to rethink our views about the resurrection and critically question our (often implicit) assumptions of the perfect and impaired bodies.”—Ismo Dunderberg, University of Helsinki

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Book Synopsis‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Amr al-Awza‘i (c.707–774) was Umayyad Syria’s most influential jurist, part of a generation of scholars who began establishing the first formal structures for the preservation and dissemination of religious knowledge. Following the Abbasid revolution, they provided a point of stability in otherwise unstable times. Despite his close ties to the old regime, al-Awza‘i continued to participate in legal and theological matters in the Abbasid era. Although his immediate impact would prove short-lived, his influence on aspects of Islamic law, particularly the laws of war, endures to this day.Trade Review‘Despite the fragmentary evidence at his disposal, Judd has given us a nuanced and well-rounded portrait of the life and teaching of an important but largely neglected jurist and theologian of the formative period of Islamic legal thought.’ -- R. Stephen Humphreys, Professor Emeritus of History and Islamic Studies, University of California, Santa BarbaraTable of ContentsForeword Introduction Al-Awza‘i’s Biography 1 THE SOURCES 2 AL-AWZA‘I’S JURISPRUDENCE Law in the Formative Period of Islam Al-Awza‘i’s Fiqh Evaluating Al-Awza‘i as a Legal Scholar 3 AL-AWZA‘I’S SCHOLARLY MILIEU Pro-Umayyad Friends and Rivals The Hanafis: Al-Awza‘i’s Foes The Malikis 4 AL-AWZA‘I’S THEOLOGY Damascus as a Theological Center Al-Awza‘i’s Theological Views Al-Awza‘i and the Qadarites Conclusions: Al-Awza‘i’s Theology 5 AL-AWZA‘I AND THE POLITICAL ELITE Al-Awza‘i and the Umayyads Surviving the Fall of the Umayyads and the Abbasid Revolution Al-Awza‘i and the Abbasids Al-Awza‘i’s Post-Revolutionary Life Conclusion: Evaluating Al-Awza‘i as a Political Figure 6 AL-AWZA‘I’S LEGACY Al-Awza‘i’s Students Al-Awza‘i’s Regional Persistence Al-Awza‘i’s Legal Legacy Al-Awza‘i in Modern Times Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Gardner is able to shed new light on rabbinic poverty relief, and to let rabbinic poverty discourse illuminate other, related areas in rabbinics research." * The Journal of Religion *Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgments Abbreviations and Conventions Introduction 1. The Wealth of the Early Rabbis 2. Harvest Allocations for the Poor 3. Charity Laws 4. Giving Mammon (Wealth) 5. Pay for the Giver 6. Charity as an Investment 7. Poverty Relief and the Anxiety of Wealth 8. Some Further Perspectives: Early Christian and Later Rabbinic Traditions Notes Bibliography Index of Ancient Sources General Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2018 National Jewish Book Award in Education and Jewish Identity, In Memory of Dorothy Kripke""First, Wimpfheimer traces the details of both discussions, but especially the halachic discussion, in close and fine detail within the talmudic text. His deconstruction of the halachic text in particular is masterful."---David Reuben, Jewish Chronicle"Wimpfheimer takes the reader by the hand and walks through the many hair-splitting complexities of the Talmud, its evolution and its impact."---Patrick T. Reardon, Chicago Tribune"Excellent and highly recommended."---David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries"The question therefore becomes how exactly such literary and historical analysis is arriving to the ‘essential’ Talmud rather than to the new 'enhanced' understanding of it. The answer to this question is in the author’s complex and carefully calibrated framing of the book as 'biography.'"---Sergey Dolgopolski, Reading Religion

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Book SynopsisJohn Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is a defining book of the Reformation and a pillar of Protestant theology. First published in Latin in 1536 and in Calvin's native French in 1541, the Institutes argues for the majesty of God and for justification by faith alone. The book decisively shaped Calvinism as a major religious and intelleTrade Review"Bruce Gordon provides an essential biography of Calvin's influential and enduring theological masterpiece, tracing the diverse ways it has been read and interpreted from Calvin's time to today."--Worcester Telegram "A compelling argument."--Brian Bethune, Maclean's "This is an excellent volume. I warmly commend it to anyone with an interest in Calvin's Institutes, and the way it has been understood through the centuries."--Tony Lane, Gospel Coalition "While Gordon's book will contribute to scholarship on the Reformation in general, and Calvin and the Reformed tradition in particular, it will be particularly beneficial to students and non-specialists who are interested in Calvin but have never read his opus magnum in its entirety. Gordon's biography of the Institutes is a welcome addition to the scholarship and I highly recommend it."--Inseo Song, Reading Religion "Bruce Gordon's short book is worth reading... As an introduction to the complex legacy of one of the magisterial Reformers, Gordon's book is an excellent place to begin."--Judith Maltby, Church Times "Eminent Reformation historian Gordon presents an exceptionally interesting and readable account of the 'life' of Calvin's great theological classic Institutes of the Christian Religion."--Choice "While there have been scores of studies tracking the legacy of John Calvin and his theological vision in the history of Christianity and the western world, this new study of the Rezeptionsgeschichte of Calvin's magnum opus, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, is unique. Gordon ... ably shows that this work well deserves a place in a series devoted to the 'Lives of Great Religious Books.'"--Michael A.G. Haykin, Church History and Religious CultureTable of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xvii Note on the Translation Used xix Introduction Remembering a Man and His Book 1 Chapter 1 A Book Emerges 13 Chapter 2 1559: The Year of the Book 35 Chapter 3 The Inheritors 48 Chapter 4 Enlightenment Ambivalence 68 Chapter 5 Fashioning a Reformer 89 Chapter 6 America's Calvins 110 Chapter 7 "A Very Calvinist Professor" and His Dutch Friends 122 Chapter 8 Titans: Barth and Brunner 133 Chapter 9 Prophet of Modernity-Prince of Tyrants 148 Chapter 10 Oppression and Liberation: South Africa 166 Chapter 11 Change and Dissent: China 183 Chapter 12 Contemporary Voices 198 Afterword 219 Appendix 1 Burning a Man and His Books: Michael Servetus and John Calvin 223 Appendix 2 Calvin's Editions of Institutes of the Christian Religion 227 Notes 229 Index 255

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Scholem's scholarship betrays an alert presentness... No great textual scholar, no master of philology and historical criticism commands a technique at once more scrupulously attentive to its object and more instinct with the writer's voice. That voices reaches and grips... [M]agisterial."--New Yorker "Immensely important and fascinating... A monumental work of historical scholarship, which recounts in minute detail a moving tragedy of vast dimensions."--The New York Review of Books "Comprehensive... the last word on an astonishing episode of Jewish history."--Times Literary Supplement "A masterful mix of traditional Jewish scholarship and... original insight into the psychology of Judaism."--Boston Globe "Undoubtedly one of the all-time masterpieces of scholarship and intellectual history."--Commonweal "A major contribution not only to the study of messianic movements but also a study enlightening to the history of the Jewish people."--Jewish PressTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*Table of Contents, pg. ix*List of Plates, pg. xv*Table of Transliteration, pg. xix*Preface, pg. xxi*Introduction to The Princetion Classics Edition, pg. xxix*1. The Background of The Sabbatian Movement, pg. 1*2. The Beginnings of Sabbatai Sevi (1626 - 1664), pg. 103*3. The Beginnings of The Movement in Palestine (1665), pg. 199*4. The Movement Up to Sabbatai's Imprisonment in Gallipoli (1665 - 1666), pg. 327*5. The Movement in Europe (1666), pg. 461*6. The Movement in The East and The Center at Gallipoli Until Sabbatai's Apostasy (1666), pg. 603*7. After The Apostasy (1667 - 1668), pg. 687*8. The Last Years of Sabbatai Sevi (1668 - 1676), pg. 821*Bibliography, pg. 931*Index, pg. 957

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Book SynopsisOn the City of God unfolds God’s action in the progress of the world’s history, and propounds the superiority of Christian beliefs over pagan in adversity.

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Book SynopsisHoly War, Martyrdom, and Terror examines the ways Christian theology has shaped centuries of violence from Christianity's first centuries up to our own day, through the crusades, the French Revolution, and more recent American wars.Trade Review"It should be said from the outset that no review could do justice to this highly conceptual, thought-provoking and ambitious book that seeks to explain violence in the West in the past two millennia . . . This enlightening book is original, sweeping in scope yet nuanced and careful in its evidence and explanations."" * Journal of Ecclesiastical History *"This is an enormously ambitious book, one that seeks to say something fundamental about the deep-rooted set of ideas and priorities that have fueled violent action over two millennia. . . . It is deeply imagined, enormously learned, and brings into conversation, with elegance and coherence, a series of analytical threads about the ideology of violence in the Western trajectory." * Reviews in History *"This is a remarkable book. Buc takes us through two millennia of western Christian and what he calls "post-Christian" (i.e., post-Enlightenment) attitudes towards violence, in order to explore how Christianity has left its imprint on western violence in the modern period. . . . He argues that violence is woven into early and medieval Christianity's conceptual frameworks and language. He then points out direct continuities between Christian violence in the past and both Christian and 'godless' violence (in the literal sense of the word, not the judgmental) in various modern presents." * Medieval Review *"In this challenging study, Philippe Buc deploys his vast knowledge of the history and complex influence of scripture and its exegesis to explore the themes of holy war, martyrdom, and terror in the culture of the Christian and post-Christian West. He has little patience with conventional, polarized constraints of religion/secularization, historical periodization, and the anachronistic dismissal of the power of religious thought and language. Buc's is a quick, learned, and contentious mind, and his identification of a distinctly western kind of identity determination and the related contours of public violence in the West is a major contribution to a fundamental historical debate." * Edward Peters, University of Pennsylvania *"The medievalist Philippe Buc discerns Christian tropes of holy war and martyrdom in seemingly secular movements with terroristic potential. A brilliant and disturbing interpretation of the religious origins of redemptive violence in the West, this is a book for our times." * Dirk Moses, European University Institute *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction. The Object of This History Chapter 1. The American Way of War Through the Premodern Looking Glass Chapter 2. Christian Exegesis and Violence Chapter 3. Madness, Martyrdom, and Terror Chapter 4. Martyrdom in the West: Vengeance, Purge, Salvation, and History Chapter 5. Twins: National Holy War and Sectarian Terror Chapter 6. Liberty and Coercion Chapter 7. The Subject of History and the Making of History Postface. No Future to That Past List of Abbreviations Notes Select Bibliography Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThe early Christian Church was a chaos of contending beliefs. Some groups Christians claimed that there was not one God but two, or twelve, or thirty. Certain sects maintained that Jesus was human but not divine; others that he was divine but not human. Eherman offers an enlightening study of these early forms of Christinaity, and how they came to be suppressed, reformed, or forgotten.Trade Review"An illuminating book." * Noel Rooney, Fortean Times *Table of ContentsChapter One: Recouping Our Loses ; PART ONE: Forgeries and Discoveries ; Chapter Two: The Ancient Discovery of a Forgery: Serapion and the Gospel of Peter ; Chapter Three: The Ancient Forgery of a Discovery: The Acts of Paul and Thecla ; Chapter Four: The Discovery on an Ancient Forgery: the Coptic Gospel of Thomas ; Chapter Five: The Forgery of an Ancient Discovery? Morton Smith and the Secret Gospel of Mark ; PART TWO: Heresies and Orthodoxies ; Chapter Six: At Polar Ends of the Spectrum: Early Christian Ebionites and Marcionites ; Chapter Seven: Christians "In the Know": The Worlds of Early Christian Gnosticism ; Chapter Eight: On the Road to Nicea: The Broad Swath of Proto-Orthodox Christianity ; PART THREE: Winners and Losers ; Chapter Nine: The Quest for Orthodoxy ; Chapter Ten: The Arsenal of the Conflicts: Polemical Treatises and Personal Slurs ; Chapter Eleven: Additional Weapons in the Proto-Orthodox Arsenal: Forgeries and Falsifications ; Chapter Twelve: The Invention of Scripture: The Formation of the Proto-Orthodox New Testament ; Chapter Thirteen: Winners, Losers, and the Question of Tolerance

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Book Synopsis`There are certain rules for interpreting the scriptures which, as I am well aware, can usefully be passed on to those with an appetite for such study...'' On Christian Teaching is one of Augustine''s most important works on the classical tradition. Written to enable Christian students to be their own interpreters of the Bible, it provides an outline of Christian theology, a detailed discussion of ethical problems, and a fascinating early contribution to sign theory. Augustine also makes a systematic attempt to determine what elements of classical education are permissible for a Christian, and in the last book suggests ways in which Ciceronian rhetorical principles may help in communicating the faith. This long-needed, completely new and up-to-date translation gives a close but stylish representation of Augustine''s thought and expression. References to the classical background are carefully explained and Roger Green''s introduction describes the aims and circumstances of the work, and outlines its influence on major figures in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Reviewa great chance to see how clever Augustine was. ... (It is more than a work on Christian teaching: it is a book about teaching. Or learning, in fact.) * The Guardian G2 section, 17 July 1997 *Table of ContentsTHE USUAL WORLD'S CLASSICS APPARATUS

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"What [this] edition does with On the Freedom of a Christian is unique. It places one of Luther's most famous writings into its theological, political, and social context. [Helfferich's] goal is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of Luther's ideas and what his contemporary opponents thought about them; in this effort the editor/translator is successful. But this collection of texts is also successful on another level—it provides students with a case study of the importance of establishing and understanding context in the study of history. "Helfferich has done a fine job in compiling, editing and introducing this collection of texts. It has several strengths for use as primary source material in a class. First, it is focused. Students will see how the texts are interrelated. Second, it provides some unique selections. The Eck and Muntzer selections are rare finds. Third, the introductory material is clearly written and will be a great help to student learning. Fourth the translations are rendered very well into readable English. . . . This book is worthy of consideration as a textbook adoption. Hackett is to be commended for bringing into print another unique primary source for research and teaching." —Sixteenth Century Journal"On the one hand, [the related texts] introduce readers to the key theological concepts taught by Luther, the Catholic theologians, and the radical reformers. On the other hand, they disclose the social, cultural, and economic aspects—topics that are of paramount interest in recent Reformation scholarship. The introductory essay in each section is crisp, clear, and concise. The success of this work is the ability to distill complicated theological controversies and divergent contents into nuances that are accessible to a wider audience." —Dennis Ngien, Tyndale University College & Seminary, in Renaissance and Reformation"With a few key primary sources, [Helfferich] introduces the Reformation in all its complexity. While emphasizing the centrality of religion and belief in the Reformation movement—including key theological concepts of Luther and the mainstream Reformation, of Catholic theologians, and of Müntzer and the more radical elements in the Reformation—the texts collected in this volume also introduce readers to its social, cultural, and economic aspects, topics of so much of the recent scholarship on the Reformation. The work includes an excellent general Introduction that, in a lucid and systematic manner, presents the reader with those key aspects of the period's Christian thought and practice against which Luther would react in On the Freedom of a Christian. And although individually brief, the cumulative effect of the various introductions [to each related text] is to provide the reader with a broad range of information about the Reformation in general." —Robert J. Christman, Luther College"The translations are accurate and clear, and the introductory essay does a wonderful job of distilling complicated theological controversies into terms that are comprehensible by an undergraduate audience. The edition's greatest asset, though, is the range of texts that it includes. By including works by Luther's Catholic opponents and his erstwhile allies, this edition demonstrates that On the Freedom of a Christian represented not only a high point in Luther's thought, but also a starting point in a debate that spanned Christendom and had massive social and political implications." —Philip Haberkern, Boston University"An excellent introduction to both Luther's thought and the theological controversies that tore apart sixteenth century Europe. Like all good historical introductions should aspire to do, Helfferich's collection concisely displays the contingency and complexity of this epoch. [T]he selected texts . . . all contribute to the understanding of the period by serving as representations of crucial positions. The cumulative effect is an invitation to the reader to delve deeper into the primary material and to gain a better view of this strange and strangely familiar world." —Kye Barker, UCLA, in ComitatusTable of ContentsIntroduction; Martin Luther, On the Freedom of a Christian; Johann Eck, Selection from Enchiridion of Common-Places Against Luther & Other Enemies of the Church; Bishop John Fisher, Sermon Against Luther; The Twelve Articles (1525) of the German Peasants; Luther, Against the Thieving, Murdering Horde of Peasants.

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Book SynopsisOn the City of God unfolds God’s action in the progress of the world’s history, and propounds the superiority of Christian beliefs over pagan in adversity.

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Book SynopsisThe philosopher Philo, born about 20 BC to a prominent Jewish family in Alexandria, was trained in Greek as well as Jewish learning. In attempting to reconcile biblical teachings with Greek philosophy he developed ideas that had wide influence on Christian and Jewish religious thought.

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Book SynopsisBy emphasizing the ways the Bishops of Rome first leveraged the cult of St. Peter to their advantage, George E. Demacopoulos constructs an alternate account of papal history that challenges the dominant narrative of an inevitable and unbroken rise in papal power from late antiquity through the Middle Ages.Trade Review"The genius of Demacopoulos's book is that it takes an entrenched assumption about Roman papal authority-that the late ancient pope claimed to speak through Peter, Christ's chosen apostle, when asserting matters of doctrine or discipline-and turns it on its head." * Early Medieval Europe *"Demacopoulos's meticulous study with helpful appendices should be read carefully by everyone, especially by those who think that they already know well enough the history of the early papacy." * Tarmo Toom, Journal of Theological Studies *"The Invention of Peter makes a valuable contribution to two fields that have not yet much affected each other: intellectual history of the papacy and late antique cultural studies. It encourages fresh, innovative scrutiny of a subject too important to languish." * Kevin Uhalde, Ohio University *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Petrine Legends, External Recognition, and the Cult of Peter in Rome Chapter 2. The Many Faces of Leo's Peter Chapter 3. Gelasius' Domestic Problems and International Posture Chapter 4. The Petrine Discourse in Theoderic's Italy and Justinian's Empire Chapter 5. Restraint and Desperation in Gregory the Great's Petrine Appeal Postscript: The Life of St. Gregory of Agrigentum as a Seventh-Century Petrine Critique of the Papacy Conclusion: The Invention of Peter Appendices (translations by Matthew Briel) I: Pope Gelasius to Augustus Anastasius II: Tract VI Notes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestseller and definitive history of Christianity for our time—from the award-winning author of The Reformation and SilenceA product of electrifying scholarship conveyed with commanding skill, Diarmaid MacCulloch's Christianity goes back to the origins of the Hebrew Bible and encompasses the globe. It captures the major turning points in Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox history and fills in often neglected accounts of conversion and confrontation in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. MacCulloch introduces us to monks and crusaders, heretics and reformers, popes and abolitionists, and discover Christianity's essential role in shaping human history and the intimate lives of men and women. And he uncovers the roots of the faith that galvanized America, charting the surprising beliefs of the founding fathers, the rise of the Evangelical movement and of Pentecostalism, and the recent crises wit

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Book Synopsis“[It] will remain the standard text of this marvelous Song for years to come, if indeed it is ever superseded.”—Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions Graham M. Schweig’s translation of the Bhagavad Gita—the “Bible of India”—is an elegant, highly accessible version of one of the most important sacred scriptures in world religion. This beautiful translation of the famous conversation between the Hindu god Krishna and the young prince Arjuna includes a glossary, a pronunciation guide, and expert commentary for greater ease of understanding.Trade Review"Graham Schweig's new, beautiful, and accessible translation will remain the standard text of this marvelous Song for years to come." -- Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions "Crystal clear and eminently readable." -- Ariel Glucklich, Professor of Theology (Hinduism) at Georgetown University "The Bhagavad Gita is a religious classic; Graham Schweig's felicitous translation deserves to be called a classic in its own right." -- Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University, author of Our Religions "Schweig has produced a beautifully readable, accurate and respectful translation that should become the standard text for classroom use." -- John Borelli, Special Assistant to the President for Interreligious Initiatives at Georgetown University, author of Interfaith Dialogue "Extremely reader friendly, particularly if you have little or no prior exposure to the Gita. " -- Yoga Journal

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Book SynopsisExplores the ways in which food practices enabled women to exert control within the family and to define their religious vocations. This title describes what women meant by seeing their own bodies and God's body as food and what men meant when they too associated women with food and flesh.Table of ContentsForeword Note on the Text Author's Note The Boston Poems Cups 1-12 The Park The Faerie Queene The Moth Poem Image-Nations -4 Les Chimeres Charms Great Companion: Pindar Image-Nations 5-14 and Uncollected Poems Streams I Syntax Pell Mell Great Companion: Robert Duncan Streams II Exody Notes Great Companion: Dante Alighiere Wanders So Oh! Afterword Index of Titles and First Lines

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Book SynopsisAn illuminating historical study of an often overlooked section of the Anglican clergy, tracing the role of the diaconate from the Reformation to the present day and clarifying the debate about its future.Trade Review"Francis Young's meticulous scholarship and expert grasp of his subject make 'Inferior Office?' a valuable missing piece for understanding how ministry in the Church of England has developed since the Reformation. It is original, beautifully written, and compelling in its proposals for the role a permanent diaconate might play in the twenty-first century church." -Bridget Nichols, Lay Chaplain to the Bishop of Ely "Dr Young's book is a welcome antidote to the generally impoverished view of the diaconate that has prevailed in the Church of England in recent years. It is a timely and significant contribution to the Church of England's understanding of the order of deacons within her threefold ministry, and will be a valuable and informative tool for those charged with the restructuring of the allocation of church resources in the 21st century." -Dr Serenhedd James, Hon Research Fellow of St Stephen's House, Oxford "This is a thought-provoking book for all clergy who are intentional about the ongoing debate of the value of the distinctive Diaconate and of the ministry it can offer to the wider church." -Reverend Mandy Herriman, The Messenger, August 2015 "Young's Scholarship adds much to our understanding of the diaconate within the threefold ministry in the Church of England." -Stephen Platten, Theology 119 (2), March-April 2016 "Young's book leaves the reader much better informed about the history and purpose of the diaconate..." -John Darch, Anvil, Vol. 32 Iss. 1, November 2016 "Francis Young stands clearly on the side of his deacons and is to be congratulated for producing such a handy, concise account of this neglected branch of the ministry - a branch that many think the Church has yet to fully exploit." -Andrew Foster, British Catholic History, 2016Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Deacons and the Reformation, 1550-1642 Chapter 2: Deacons from Restoration to Reform, 1660-1832 Chapter 3: The Victorian Call for Deacons, 1839-1901 Chapter 4: Deacons in the Twentieth Century Chapter 5: Deacons Today Conclusion

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Book SynopsisShows how our debates are rooted in the many controversies surrounding the birth of the religion and the earliest attempts to resolve them. This title explores the ambiguities and contradictions that underlay Christian theology and the unavoidable compromises enforced in the name of doctrine.Trade Review"Freeman has a gift for crafting a compelling story out of the messy details of history, painting nuanced portraits of key figures through compelling quotations and precise historical observation."—Steve Young, Library Journal"This book will help us to new understandings and insights . . . It makes the events of this early period clear and accessible, and succeeds in showing how the Church developed its character and identity."—John Binns, Church Times"[Freeman] has found a fresh approach to the subject, from the birth of Christ to the death of the Roman Empire . . . Freeman gives one of the best explanations of the Arian controversy . . . that I have come across. And it is the way Freeman explores such issues that gives this book its modern relevance."—Nigel Nelson, Tribune"This [book] brilliantly evokes the intellectual excitement and spiritual ferment when a sect of enthusiasts was turning itself into a church."—Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman"Freeman writes well and his narrative is clear and swift with fine flashes of insight."—Eric Ormsby, Standpoint"Freeman writes very well and he always takes the trouble to read deeply in the scholarly literature. This book is a rattling good read and you’ll encounter all sorts of fascinating facts and stories."—Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald"Charles Freeman’s splendid and wide-ranging account of the birth of Christianity came out to rave reviews a couple of years ago. This paperback edition should make this important book available to more people."—Catholic Herald"This new and fascinating account shows how a distinct but diverse and exceptionally vibrant movement was brought into line with a unifying theology and what was lost in the process."—Good Book Guide"A History of Early Christianity is a masterful book, and a pleasure to read. Freeman narrates the development, diversity, and spread of Christianity with originality and verve. It is a story that brims over with fascinating accounts, intriguing quotations from figures in the ancient Mediterranean, and illuminating historical analysis. It is also a crucial resource for our understanding of ongoing cultural negotiations of religious and political spheres, all those theologico-political paradoxes that face us now more than ever. I do not think there exists a more engaging and illuminating history of early Christianity than this one."—Ward Blanton, University of Glasgow"Even those who are adherents to Christianity may be puzzled by the tensions which exist in its primary sources, and this meticulous attempt to probe its origins and development is to be welcomed. Charles Freeman embraces the different kinds of approaches and positions which are found in the ancient texts, Christian and otherwise, painting a vivid picture of the nature of Christianity in all its diversity in the earliest centuries of its existence."—Christopher Rowland, author of Christian Origins "This is a bold and imaginative historical synthesis which fills an important need. For the first time, Freeman makes the complex story of Christianity's birth and early development available in concise, lively, eminently readable form. A tragic story in many ways, but a great pleasure to read."—Richard Rubenstein, author of When Jesus Became God

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Book SynopsisDrawing upon the latest historical and archaeological research, Dr Peter Sarris provides a panoramic account of the history of Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Near East from the fall of Rome to the rise of Islam. The formation of a new social and economic order in western Europe in the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries, and the ascendancy across the West of a new culture of military lordship, are placed firmly in the context of on-going connections and influence radiating outwards from the surviving Eastern Roman Empire, ruled from the great imperial capital of Constantinople. The East Roman (or ''Byzantine'') Emperor Justinian''s attempts to revive imperial fortunes, restore the empire''s power in the West, and face down Constantinople''s great superpower rival, the Sasanian Empire of Persia, are charted, as too are the ways in which the escalating warfare between Rome and Persia paved the way for the development of new concepts of ''holy war'', the emergence of Islam, and the ArTrade ReviewPeter Sarris' splendid new book is a defiant act of intellectual imperialism. Under the triumphant banner of The Oxford History of Medieval Europe it annexes four academic kingdoms: Rome, the early Middle Ages, Byzantium and early Islam ... It is easy to forget that this is hard-fought territory, disputed by fractious experts and partitioned between different university departments ... Peter Sarris' signal acheivement is to impose an academic unity on the period. * Christopher Kelly, The Literary Review *evoke[s], with a rare vividness, the world of the later Roman aristocracy * Conrad Leyser, Times Literary Supplement *An epic, sweeping and ferociously clever history of the age of Justinian and Mohammed. * Dominic Sandbrook, Evening Standard *a brilliant book about the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam, filled with insights and revolutionary ideas by one of the finest historians in Britain. * Peter Frankopan, History Today Books of the Year 2013 *This is the first volume to appear in the Oxford History of Medieval Europe. Its general editors express the hope in their preface that they have liberated their authors 'from the need to produce a standard authoritative account'. Thankfully Peter Sarris has refused to be liberated and has done exactly that. I dont think it is too fanciful to see points of similarity between Empires of Faith and Stenton's Anglo-Saxon England. Both display a mastery of the relevant sources and scholarship; both provide very clear guides to complicated situations; both are very sensitive to the shaping of history by economic, social and religious forces. This is a very good book indeed. * Michael Angold, History *This is an impressive book. Sarris has succeeded in covering both western and eastern developments and tying them convincingly together ... Empires of Faith is a lucid and confident expression of Sarris' developed view of materialist history, and at the same time a coherent and highly readable book. * Averil Cameron, English Historical Review *In this magisterial book, Peter Sarris brings to life a pivotal epoch in world history, the centuries between the end of Roman rule in western Europe and the rise of Islam. His considerable achievement is to knit together in a most compelling fashion the major political and economic developments from the Atlantic to the Eurasian steppe that cumulatively produced a new medieval world order by the beginning of the eighth century ... loaded with detail that rarely gets in the way of a lively story ... Peter Sarris has emerged as an important medieval historian with a powerful and authoritative voice. Empires of Faith deserves a wide readership. * Michael Maas, Speculum *The book's many positive features are easy to peg up ... a synthesis that goes beyond tedious textbooks in offering students a no-nonsense analytical narrative, together with useful apparatus, such as the chapter-by-chapter readings in sources and scholarship. University teachers, and a generation of students, will bless the author's name. * Mark Humphries, Early Medieval Europe *Table of Contents1. The World that had been Rome ; 2. The Formation of Post-Roman Society ; 3. The Romano-Germanic Kingdoms ; 4. The View from the East ; 5. Byzantium, the Balkans, and the West ; 6. Religion and Society ; 7. Heraclius, Persia, and Holy War ; 8. The Age of Division ; 9. The Princes of the Western Nations ; Epilogue ; Select Bibliography and Further Reading

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Book SynopsisSt Boniface, the early 8th-century English cleric who became known as "Apostle to the Germans" was an important agent in the conversion of the North German tribes from paganism to Christianity. This text provides translations of his letters.

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Book SynopsisExamines the Buddhist priest Kukai's influence on Japanese culture. This book contends that the importance of Kukai's transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra. It explores the rhetorical strategies Kukai employed in his works.Trade ReviewThis is a remarkable book about one of the most remarkable figures in the history of Japanese Buddhism...Abe's book will certainly emerge and remain the primary examination of Kukai's life and thought for many years to come. It is thus a crucial read for anyone interested in early Japanese religion and intellectual history...The Weaving of Mantra provides a very lengthy, detailed, and substantial intellectual historical analysis of Kukai...[T]his book is a monumental achievement that will fascinate students of Japanese religion and stimulate much discussion among historians. -- Steven Heine Journal of Asian Studies Abe has made a major contribution to our understanding of the figure of Kukai, of Esoteric Buddhism, of the political, intellectual and religious situation of the Nara and early Heian periods, and of our view of medieval Japanese Buddhism as a whole. He has command of an impressive range of sources, both classical and modern, and he has a sophisticated grasp of recent theoretical discussions... Both in the new readings of early and medieval Japanese Buddhism that it advances and in the discussions that it will stimulate, this volume stands as a major addition to the field. -- Paul B. Watt Journal of Asian HistoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Interaction of Kukai with the Nara Clergy Illustrations Introduction 1. Kukai and (Very) Early Heian Society: A Prolegomenon Part I. Origins, Traces, Nonorigin 2. Kukai's Dissent: Of Mendicancy and Fiction 3. Journey to China: Outside Ritsuryo Discourse 4. (No) Traces of Esoteric Buddhism: Dharani and the Nara Buddhist Literature Part II. Cartography 5. Category and History: Constructing the Esoteric 6. The Discourse of Complementarity: Constructing the Esoteric II Part III. Writing and Polity 7. Semiology of the Dharma; or the Somaticity of the Text 8. Of Mantra and Palace: Textualizing the Emperor, Calamity and the Cosmos 9. Genealogy of Mantra and Kukai's Legacy Post-Script Problems of the Category of Heian Buddhism Kukai and the Limitation of Kuroda's Kenmitsu Theory Glossary Abbreviations Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA fresh consideration of the enduring tradition of the Seven Deadly Sins, showing its continuing post-medieval influence. The tradition of the seven deadly sins played a considerable role in western culture, even after the supposed turning-point of the Protestant Reformation, as the essays collected here demonstrate. The first part of the book addresses such topics as the problem of acedia in Carolingian monasticism; the development of medieval thought on arrogance; the blending of tradition and innovation in Aquinas's conceptualization of the sins; the treatment of sin in the pastoral contexts of the early Middle English Vices and Virtues and a fifteenth-century sermon from England; the political uses of the deadly sins in the court sermons of Jean Gerson; and the continuing usefulnessof the tradition in early modern England. In the second part, the role of the tradition in literature and the arts is considered. Essays look at representations of the sins in French music of the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries; in Dante's Purgatorio; in a work by Michel Beheim in pre-Reformation Germany; and in a 1533 play by the German Lutheran writer Hans Sachs. New interpretations are offered of Gower's "Tale of Constance" and Bosch's Tabletop of the Seven Deadly Sins. As a whole, the book significantly enhances our understanding of the multiple uses and meanings of the sins tradition, not only in medieval culture but also in the transition from the medievalto the early modern period. RICHARD G. NEWHAUSER is Professor of English and Medieval Studies, Arizona State University, Tempe; SUSAN J. RIDYARD is Professor of History and Director of the Sewanee Medieval Colloquium,The University of the South, Sewanee. Contributors: Richard G. Newhauser, James B. Williams, Kiril Petkov, Cate Gunn, Eileen C. Sweeney, Holly Johnson, Nancy McLoughlin, Anne Walters Robertson, Peter S. Hawkins, CarolJamison, Henry Luttikhuizen, William C. McDonald, Kathleen Crowther.Trade ReviewProvides many interesting and valuable discussions of specific texts (and occasionally visual and musical sources), and the ways in which these employ the concept of sin and particularly that of the seven capital sins.[It] throws new light on the way people in the medieval and early modern world thought about sins, but also on how sins were good to think with. * HISTORY *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Understanding Sin: Recent Scholarship and the Capital Vices - Richard G. Newhauser Working for Reform: Acedia, Benedict of Aniane and the Transformation of Working Culture in Carolingian Monasticism - James B. Williams The Cultural Career of a 'Minor' Vice: Arrogance in the Medieval Treatise in Sin - Kiril Petkov Vices and Virtues: A Reassessment of Stowe MS 34 - Cate Gunn Aquinas on the Seven Deadly Sins: Tradition and Innovation - Eileen C. Sweeney A Fifteenth-Century Sermon Enacts the Seven Deadly Sins - Holly Johnson The Deadly Sins and Contemplative Politics: Gerson's Ordering of the Personal and Political Realms - Nancy A. McLoughlin 'These Seaven Devils': The Capital Vices on the Way to Modernity - Richard G. Newhauser The Seven Deadly Sins in Medieval Music - Anne Walters Robertson The Religion of the Mountain: Handling Sin in Dante's Purgatorio - Peter S. Hawkins John Gower's Shaping of 'The Tale of Constance' as an Exemplum contra Envy - Carol Jamison Through Boschian Eyes: An Interpretation of the Prado Tabletop of the Seven Deadly Sins - Henry M. Luttikhuizen Singing Sin: Michel Beheim's 'Little Book of the Seven Deadly Sins', a German Pre-Reformation Religious Text for the Laity - William C. McDonald Raising Cain: Vice, Virtue and Social Order in the German Reformation - Kathleen M. Crowther

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Book SynopsisExplores the relationships men, women, and children have formed with the Virgin Mary and the saints in twentieth-century American Catholic history, and reflects on how people live in the company of sacred figures and how these relationships shape the ties between people on earth.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2005 Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in the Constructive-Reflective Studies Category, American Academy of Religion. One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2005 "[Orsi] challenges the human sciences to return to religion the uncertainty and angst it holds when it is actually lived rather than merely studied and theorized... Thoughtful and a pleasure to read, Between Heaven and Earth is a major contribution to religious studies and to the anthropology of religion, and will be of great interest to scholars concerned with subjectivity in the contemporary world."--Joao Biehl, Anthropological Quarterly "Between Heaven and Earth documents Orsi's growing confidence in the belief that religion is less about formal ideas or morality than how it structures networks of relationships, most important the relationships between family members, loved ones, their saints and Gods... The result is frequently dazzling... [A] compelling blend of personal narrative and scholarly inquiry."--John T. McGreevy, Commonweal "Between Heaven and Earth is a classic ... Balancing historical, archival and personal evidence in a rare style of historical auto-ethnography to study religious intimacy in fresh and intellectually satisfying ways, Orsi takes readers more deeply into his theoretical and conceptual levels of argument by introducing them to his uncle Sal and his grandmother... This is a memorable book, both for the story of Orsi's family, in which he situates historical and cultural practices, and for the intellectual challenge his work represents to the interdisciplinary study of religions."--Claire Hoertz Badaracco, America "Orsi argues that religion is best viewed not as a tool of meaning making, but as a complex and ambiguous 'network of relationships between heaven and earth involving humans of all ages and many different sacred figures together.' He persuasively demonstrates this through a series of case studies focused primarily on 20th-century American Catholicism. Orsi mixes personal family history with anthropological and historical argumentations... [T]he book moves far beyond the study of Catholicism. Orsi's broader foci are religion as it is practiced and the frames that scholars of religion use to interpret their subjects."--Choice "Thoughtful and a pleasure to read, Between Heaven and Earth is a major contribution to religious studies and to the anthropology of religion, and will be of great interest to scholars concerned with subjectivity in the contemporary world."--Joao Biehl, Anthropological Quarterly "Orsi shows how one might successfully approach a study of religion that is both critical and radically empirical, focused on the way that people inhabit and make their world through religious idiom embedded in a network of social and material relationships. This book is as methodologically important as it is engaging to read."--Richard J. Callahan, Jr., Religion "Robert Orsi strongly makes the case that positive and negative assessments of religious practice are beside the point... [T]he power of Between Heaven and Earth is not in replacing the either/or of the good religion schema with neither/nor. Rather it is Orsi's challenge to view religion as we might view other relationships in our lives: with respect for its complexity, and, above all, with compassion."--Peter Manseau, Church History "In this much-reviewed and widely praised set of essays on the religious experience of mid-twentieth-century working-class Italian-American Catholics, Robert Orsi speaks to a series of large questions in the study of religion more generally. Drawing from his own family history, he provides an intimate look at the interior world of the Catholicism he knows best, expanding the usual cast of adult devotees to include children, saints, and scholars."--Ann Taves, Journal of Religion "Between Heaven and Earth is both a model of and a model for how one might learn about vernacular religion through material culture and ritual practice. I have often drawn on and referred to Orsi's book."--Peter Savastano, transformations "The author writes as a committed insider, and much of his work is biographical in the context of his own family and also autobiographical. This is possibly the finest and most meaningful aspect of the entire book."--Professor Graham Duncan, Studia Historiae EcclesiasticaeTable of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix INTRODUCTION: Jesus Held Him So Close in His Love for Him That He Left the Marks of His Passion on His Body 1 CHAPTER ONE: "Mildred, Is It Fun to Be a Cripple?"The Culture of Suffering in Mid-Twentieth Century American Catholicism 19 CHAPTER TWO: The Many Names of the Mother of God 48 CHAPTER THREE: Material Children: Making God's Presence Real for Catholic Boys and Girls and for the Adults in Relation to Them 73 CHAPTER FOUR: Two Aspects of One Life: Saint Gemma Galgani and My Grandmother in the Wound between Devotion and History, the Natural and the Supernatural 110 CHAPTER FIVE: "Have You Ever Prayed to Saint Jude?" Reflections on Fieldwork in Catholic Chicago 146 CHAPTER SIX: Snakes Alive: Religious Studies between Heaven and Earth 177 NOTES 205 INDEX 241

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Book SynopsisHow did the Bible survive the Enlightenment? Showing how Protestant translators and scholars in the 18th century transformed the Bible from a book justified by theology to one justified by culture, this book offers a history of the Bible in the century of its greatest crisis and, in turn, a new vision of this century and its effects on religion.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2005 George L. Mosse Prize, American Historical Association One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2005 "Sheehan's narrative is engaging and replete with fascinating detail... Sheehan's scholarship is praiseworthy, his erudition impressive, and his writing often elegant. This book represents a welcome contribution to modern European intellectual history and the history of biblical scholarship."--Thomas Albert Howard, American Historical Review "[A] splendid and clever book... [Sheehan's] work makes sense of the enlightenment Bible within historical and intellectual processes."--Scott Mandelbrote, English Historical Review "This is a book that needed to be written, and it has been written very well... [V]ery important, stimulating and accessible."--Anthony Page, Journal of British Studies "A model of comparative history... This book is not only a work about the Enlightenment; it is also a work of enlightenment."--David Kling, Church History "[A] fascinating story... [Sheehan's] inclusion of Jewish scholars and scholarship is especially welcomed... Highly recommended."--Choice "For those happy that the Bible should be a cultural artifact, and for those who seek to encounter the God of Abraham and Jesus through its pages, this is a valuable account of how modernity's characteristic construal of the Bible came about."--Walter Moberly, Reviews in Religion and Theology "Sheehan's scholarly accomplishment and historical contribution comes from the extensive new research he has done on the largely unrecorded history of Bible translation... Sheehan has thus introduced a whole new set of books and characters to track down and lines of questioning to explore. For that gift alone, German historians should rejoice."--John R. Holloran, H-Net ReviewsTable of ContentsPreface: Forging the Cultural Bible ix Abbreviations xvii Chapter One: The Vernacular Bible: Reformation and Baroque 1 Part I: The Birth of the Enlightenment Bible Chapter Two: Scholarship, the New Testament, and the English Defense of the Bible 27 Chapter Three: Religion, the New Testament, and the German Reinvention of the Bible 54 Part II: The Forms of the Enlightenment Bible Chapter Four: Philology: The Bible from Text to Document 93 Chapter Five: Pedagogy: The Politics and Morals of the Enlightenment Bible 118 Chapter Six: Poetry: National Literature, History, and the Hebrew Bible 148 Chapter Seven: History: The Archival and Alien Old Testament 182 Part III: The Cultural Bible Chapter Eight: Culture, Religion, and the Bible in Germany, 1790-1830 223 Chapter Nine: "Regeneration from Germany": Culture and the Bible in England, 1780-1870 241 Afterword 259 Index 261

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