History of religion Books

Book SynopsisA guide to the history of relations between Jews and Muslims around the world from the birth of Islam to today. It features more than 150 authoritative and accessible articles by an international team of leading experts in history, politics, literature, anthropology, and philosophy.Trade ReviewOne of the Outstanding Reference Sources for 2014, Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), American Library Association One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 "Although contemporary media may portray Muslim-Jewish relations from only the perspective of the Palestinian-Israeli lens, and view Muslims and Jews as monolithic, this book presents a far deeper and richer relationship between Muslims and Jews in areas that go beyond politics and religion... The essays presented here provide the general reader with a flavor of the rich Muslim-Jewish relationship since early Islam. An excellent reference for high-school students, general readers looking for more depth than current media coverage, and undergraduates looking for a starting point in their research."--Booklist, starred review "At more than 1,000 pages of text, illustration and scholarly apparatus, A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations is, quite literally, a solid work of scholarship. Thanks to its eye-catching visual elements, it also presents itself as a coffee-table book of a superior kind. Above all, it is a serious and timely effort to repair a relationship between kindred peoples who have never been fully at ease with each and yet, thanks to the accidents of history, are fated to live in close proximity."--Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal "This work marks a milestone... It is a true act of faith in the ability of history, and, more broadly, the social sciences, to mediate between past and present and between extremes."--Frederic Abecassis, Lectures "Organized thematically and chronologically, this indispensable reference provides critical facts and balanced context for greater historical understanding and a more informed dialogue between Jews and Muslims."--RELMIN newsletter "[T]he work contains a wealth of information that will appeal to varied constituencies. It certainly deserves a place on the bookshelf of any individual or institution concerned with this contentious subject."--Philip Chrimes, International Affairs "[T]his is a very beautiful book. It is also a very important and timely one... I highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in Jewish-Muslim relations. I can easily imagine using it as the principal textbook for a college course on the subject, and I am sure that others will do just that."--Michael McGaha, Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online "The chapters are concise and accessible, adequately referenced, and stunningly illustrated... It will be indispensable for scholars and teachers seeking perspective or planning courses or research."--Choice "This collection of scholarly yet accessible articles by dozens of Jewish and Muslim experts is the definitive source for understanding a complex relationship between Muslims and Jews from the seventh century to the present day... [T]he richness of this fantastic and exciting book lies also in its descriptions of how Jews and Muslims have learned from each other in the arenas of philosophy, science, art, literature, and mysticism."--Tikkun "A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations is an essential book for anyone who seeks truly to understand the history and context of modern relationships between the two descendants of Abraham."--Charles H Middleburgh, Charles Middleburgh Blog "A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations, is a resource that should be in the library of every person who cares about peace in the Middle East and reconciliation among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam."--Joseph V. Montville, Abrahamic Family Reunion "I found the book fascinating. I learned a great deal from it--about the culture of these two groups, about their conflicts, about the areas where they have some commonality. The level of research is quite deep. The inclusion of art and items from the writings of each tradition simply add to the richness of the volume."--Mary Jarvis, Reference ReviewsTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. 1*Contents, pg. 5*Foreword, pg. 7*Editorial Committee, pg. 9*Introduction, pg. 13*Transcriptions, pg. 25*Prologue. The "Golden Age" of Jewish-Muslim Relations: Myth and Reality, pg. 28*The Jews of Arabia at the Birth of Islam, pg. 39*Islamic Policy toward Jews from the Prophet Muhammad to the Pact of 'Umar, pg. 58*Jews and Muslims in the Eastern Islamic World, pg. 75*The Jews of al- Andalus, pg. 111*The Conversion of Jews to Islam, pg. 136*The Legal Status of the Jews and Muslims in the Christian States, pg. 145*Jews and Muslims in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, pg. 156*Prologue. Jews and Muslims in Ottoman Territory before the Expulsion from Spain, pg. 164*Jews and Muslims in the Ottoman Empire, pg. 171*The Jews of Palestine, pg. 203*The Jews in Jerusalem and Hebron during the Ottoman Era, pg. 211*In Emergent Morocco, pg. 223*The Jews in Iran, pg. 239*Jews of Yemen, pg. 248*Jews and Muslims in Central Asia, pg. 258*Judaism and the Religious Denominational Community in the Near East, pg. 269*Prologue. The Cremieux Decree, pg. 286*The Invention of the Holy Land, pg. 292*From Coexistence to the Rise of Antagonisms, pg. 297*The Balfour Declaration and Its Implications, pg. 320*"The Arabs" as a Category of British Discourse in Palestine, pg. 329*Zionism and the Arab Question, pg. 340*The Diverse Reactions to Nazism by Leaders in the Muslim Countries, pg. 349*Al- Nakba: A Few Keys to Reading a Catastrophe, pg. 375*From the Judeo- Palestinian Conflict to the Arab- Israeli Wars, pg. 384*Israel in the Face of Its Victories, pg. 393*The Mobilization of Religion in the Israeli- Arab Conflict, pg. 403*The Emigration of the Jews from the Arab World, pg. 415*The Case of Lebanon: Contemporary Issues of Adversity, pg. 436*Muslim- Jewish Relations in Israel, pg. 445*The Arabs in Israel, pg. 452*Shari'a Jurisdiction in Israel, pg. 458*Judeo- Arab Associations in Israel, pg. 471*In the Territories, pg. 479*Survival of the Jewish Community in Turkey, pg. 490*Iranian Paradoxes, pg. 495*In the Shadow of the Republic: A Century of Coexistence and Conflict, pg. 501*Muslim Arab Attitudes toward Israel and the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict: Variable and Contingent, pg. 521*Perceptions of the Holocaust in the Arab World: From Denial to Acknowledgment?, pg. 533*Muslim Anti- Semitism: Old or New?, pg. 546*Relations between Jews and Muslims in Hebrew Literature, pg. 559*Jewish Figures in Modern Arabic Literature, pg. 566*Figures of the Israeli in Palestinian Literature, pg. 573*Writing Difference in French- Language Maghrebi Literature, pg. 582*Looking at the Other: Israeli and Palestinian Cinemas, pg. 594*Prologue Recapitulating the Positives without Giving in to Myth, pg. 606*Qur'an and Torah: The Foundations of Intertextuality, pg. 611*Arabic Translations of the Hebrew Bible, pg. 628*Hebrew Translations and Transcriptions of the Qur'an, pg. 640*Hebrew, Arabic: A Comparative View, pg. 653*Semitism: From a Linguistic Concept to a Racist Argument, pg. 676*Comparison between the Halakha and Shari'a, pg. 683*Rituals: Similarities, Infl uences, and Processes of Differentiation, pg. 701*Prayer in Judaism and Islam, pg. 713*Shabbat and Friday in Judaism and Islam, pg. 720*Jewish and Muslim Charity in the Middle Ages: A Comparative Approach, pg. 726*Jewish and Muslim Philosophy: Similarities and Differences, pg. 737*The Andalusian Philosophical Milieu, pg. 764*The Karaites and Mu'tazilism, pg. 778*Judaism and Islam According to Ibn Kammuna, pg. 788*From Arabic to Hebrew: The Reception of the Greco- Arab Sciences in Hebrew (Twelfth-Fifteenth Centuries), pg. 796*Shi'ism and Judaism: A Relation Marked by Paradox, pg. 816*European Judaism and Islam: The Contribution of Jewish Orientalists, pg. 828*Embodied Letter: Sufi and Kabbalistic Hermeneutics, pg. 837*Respectful Rival: Abraham Maimonides on Islam, pg. 856*Jews, Islamic Mysticism, and the Devil, pg. 869*Biblical Prophets and Their Illustration in Islamic Art, pg. 891*Images of Jews in Ottoman Court Manuscripts, pg. 902*Synagogues in the Islamic World, pg. 911*The Contribution of Jewish Architects to Egypt's Architectural Modernity, pg. 928*James Sanua's Ideological Contribution to Pan- Islamism, pg. 934*Arabic Ars Poetica in Biblical Hebrew: Hebrew Poetry in Spain, pg. 943*The Figure of the Jew in A Thousand and One Nights, pg. 955*Judeo- Persian Literature, pg. 962*The Music of al- Andalus: Meeting Place of Three Cultures, pg. 970*The Jews of the Maghreb: Between Memory and History, pg. 985*Jewish Pilgrimages in Egypt, pg. 1005*Aspects of Family Life among Jews in Muslim Societies, pg. 1017*Citizenship, Gender, and Feminism in the Contemporary Arab Muslim and Jewish Worlds, pg. 1025*"Muslim Body" versus "Jewish Body": The Invention of a Division, pg. 1042*Flavors and Memories of Shared Culinary Spaces in the Maghreb, pg. 1052*General Bibliography, pg. 1063*Index of Names, pg. 1101*Index of Places, pg. 1123*Illustration Credits, pg. 1135*Contents, pg. 1139

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Book SynopsisThis book discusses the history, topography, and urban development of Corinth with special attention to civic and private religious practices in the Roman colony. Expert analysis of the latest archaeological data is coupled with consideration of what can be known about the emergence and evolution of religions in Corinth.Trade ReviewIn summing up the contribution of this volume, adjectives abound: diverse, up-to-date, interesting, helpful, stimulating… The overall interplay of literary and cultural studies of ancient religious groups with research on site-specific material culture remains a promising venue for moving forward in our understanding of Greco-Roman religions… This volume is an essential resource for anyone working on any aspect of ancient Corinth, and methodologically of much interest and use to those working on religious communities during the Greco-Roman period. -- Richard S. Ascough * Catholic Biblical Quarterly *New Testament scholars will find this a very useful volume, especially for the archaeological discussions, which are full of details and illuminating evidence presented in maps and illustrations. -- Peter Oakes * Journal for the Study of the New Testament *

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Book SynopsisCan people coexist in peace when their basic beliefs are irreconcilable? Kaplan responds by taking us back to early modern Europe, when the issue of religious toleration was no less pressing than it is today. This compelling story reveals that toleration has taken many guises in the past and suggests that it may well do the same in the future.Trade ReviewDivided by Faith is a work of erudition and broad vision that may best be compared to a large canvas of vivid scenes, a textual Brueghel. It offers us historical lessons for our own age, threatened with the rising clamor of intolerance. -- Ronnie Hsia, Pennsylvania State UniversityDivided by Faith is an original, brilliant, and utterly compelling account of the origins of religious tolerance. For divided communities or civilizations on the brink, it bears a timely and reassuring message from history: living tolerably with an irreconcilable enemy is a far lesser burden than war. -- Steven Ozment, Harvard UniversityA refreshing new interpretation of the problems of religious conflict and coexistence that troubled Europe after the unity of western Christendom was broken by the Protestant Reformation. Well constructed, convincingly argued, and beautifully written, this book speaks to many current questions about the origins and nature of religious tolerance and the prospects for peaceful coexistence among competing faiths. -- Barbara Diefendorf, Boston UniversityKaplan examines the sometimes lurid and always remarkable history of religious conflict and tolerance in Europe during the period between the Reformation and the French Revolution (from the 16th to the late 18th centuries). Conceding this is a thoroughly plowed field of inquiry and eschewing the establishment of new facts, Kaplan's detail-laden yet thoroughly accessible text acknowledges the roles of contemporary philosophers, theologians, and leaders (e.g., Oliver Cromwell, John Locke, and Voltaire) in quieting a continent contorted by religious conflict. Kaplan's major contribution, however, is to redirect the level of analysis to "peasants and craftsmen, women and minorities" who developed the ability to get along on a day-to-day, shoulder-to-shoulder basis despite religious toleration at the time often having been considered heresy in and of itself. -- James R. Kuhlman * Library Journal *At this moment, there may be no more important story than the one Europeans and Americans proudly tell themselves about the rise of religious toleration. So please take note of Benjamin J. Kaplan's argument that the story may be dangerously flawed...Contrary to the once-popular notion that religious toleration rose steadily from the Middle Ages through the Protestant Reformation and on to the Enlightenment, Mr. Kaplan maintains that religious toleration declined from around 1550 to 1750...Divided by Faith ends with five words that sum up its message and could serve as a motto for historical studies generally: "the possibility of other options." -- Peter Steinfels * New York Times *[A] splendid book...The book is worth a look merely for its fascinating vignettes of religious life in [Switzerland, the Low Countries, and the German principalities that made up the Holy Roman Empire]. One striking discovery is that there was more religious freedom in the 16th century than after the wars of religion ended a century later...It would be a long time before Europe's Christians rediscovered such a spirit of religious tolerance. That is something critics of today's Islamic world should remember, as should unquestioning believers in the virtue of the European Enlightenment. As well as its fine story-telling, Mr. Kaplan's book has the great merit of reinstating religion and quarrels about religious practice at the heart of the modern European history--where they clearly belong. * The Economist *Kaplan creates a brilliant survey of that most fraught of religious eras, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and ranges with engaging humor and perception across Europe. -- Diarmaid MacCulloch * Times Higher Education Supplement *Kaplan argues convincingly that the breakdown of the religious consensus made toleration less rather than more likely. Before the Reformation, some devotional diversity had existed under the Catholic umbrella, but from the late sixteenth century onwards, Christian denominations demonized one another in a desperate attempt to shore up their versions of religious truth: tensions were created where none had existed before...Kaplan demonstrates that religious violence continued well into the age of Enlightenment...His employment of facts on the ground is an effective way of countering myths about the early modern period, and his objection to the notion that “ideas have autonomous power, separate from the human beings who generate, transmit, accept, or reject them” is an appropriate response to previous studies of toleration which have lifted the ideas of Locke and Bayle out of their historical context. -- Eliane Glaser * Times Literary Supplement *In this remarkable book, Kaplan challenges the generally accepted narrative that modern tolerance arose out of the crucible of the religious wars of the early modern period and triumphed during the Enlightenment as reason replaced religion's hold over people...This is a masterful synthesis, engagingly written and compellingly argued, that will appeal both to scholars and those concerned about current religious tensions. -- J. Harrie * Choice *Table of ContentsList of Maps and Illustrations Introduction I. Obstacles 1. A Holy Zeal Christian piety in the confessional age 2. Corpus Christianum The community as religious body 3. Flashpoints The events that triggered violence 4. One Faith, One Law, One King How religion and politics intersected II. Arrangements 5. The Gold Coin Ecumenical experiments 6. Crossing Borders Traveling to attend services 7. Fictions of Privacy House chapels 8. Sharing Churches, Sharing Power Official pluralism III. Interactions 9. A Friend to the Person Individual and group relations 10. Transgressions Conversion and intermarriage 11. Infidels Muslims and Jews in Christian Europe IV. Changes 12. Enlightenment? The "rise of toleration" reconsidered Notes Further Reading Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisThe consequences of becoming a Christian in the early Christian movemen is set apart from that move from any other religious affiliation. You could become a Mithraist or Isiac or whatever, and it made no difference to your previous religious activities and loyalties. You continued to take part in the worship of your inherited deities of household, city, nation. But if you became a Christian you were expected to desist from worship of all other deities. And the ubiquitous place of the gods in all spheres of social and political activity made that difficult, and made for potentially serious consequences if you did desist. Indeed, it made it difficult to know how you could function socially and politically (to use our terminology).This book explores the growth of adherents to early Christianity; that all across this early period people became adherents of Christianity in the face of the costs and consequences of doing so.

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Book SynopsisCollected together for the first time in one volume are the most important critical study of Pelagius to date and a selection of his letters.Trade ReviewA judicious survey of the literature surrounding Pelagius and the movement associated with his name. * CHURCH HISTORY *An important contribution to studies of Pelagius and the social and religious world of the late fourth and early fifth-century West. * THEOLOGICAL STUDIES *

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Book SynopsisA volume of translated documents chronicling the conflict between Franciscan friars and Benedictine monks in medieval Bury St Edmunds and the subsequent Franciscan community at Babwell Between 1233 and 1263 Franciscan friars engaged in a fierce confrontation with one of the most powerful abbeys in western Christendom, St Edmunds Abbey. Bringing together the documents that describe the sometimes violent and destructive conflict, which was litigated in both the royal court and the papal curia, this volume traces the history of the Franciscan presence at Bury St Edmunds both before and after the friars established a permanent home at Babwell Fen outside the town's North Gate in 1265. The controversy created by the arrival of mendicant friars was one of the major religious events of thirteenth-century Europe; the events in Bury are the best evidenced in England, and among the most richly documented mendicant-monastic conflicts in Europe. The volume includes documents produced by the monks of St Edmunds, the royal chancery, the papal curia and the friars themselves, chronicling a mendicant community that continued to challenge and disrupt the authority of the Abbey over Bury St Edmunds.Table of ContentsPreface List of illustrations Abbreviations Introduction Editorial methods Documents Part I: The friars in the banleuca of St Edmund, 1233-1263 Part II: The friars at Babwell, 1265-1538 Appendix: Friars who spent time in Bury St Edmunds Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBarlaam and Ioasaph, a hagiographic novel in which an Indian prince becomes aware of the world’s miseries and is converted to Christianity by a monk, is a Christianized version of the legend of the Buddha. Though often attributed to John Damascene (ca. AD 676–749), it was probably translated from Georgian into Greek in the eleventh century.

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Book Synopsis''This attractively produced volume is a fully documented work of scholarship from a scholar of international repute and has for some years now provided an important new work of reference on everything pertaining to the religious, social and economic background of the Holy City in the time of Christ.'' (New Blackfriars)''The whole work is a superb quarry of information ... everyone should be richly instructed by its study.'' (Times Literary Supplement)`Professor Jeremias brings a deep love for the place to his erudition, particularly in the realm of Jewish sources, and the result is a book of outstanding merit'' (Church of England Newspaper)Until his death in 1979, Joachim Jeremias was Emeritus Professor of New Testament in the University of Gottingen.

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Book SynopsisMennonite German Soldiers traces the efforts of a small, pacifist, Christian religious minority in eastern Prussia-the Mennonite communities of the Vistula River basin-to preserve their exemption from military service, which was based on their religious confession of faith. Conscription was mandatory for nearly all male Prussian citizens, and the willingness to fight and die for country was essential to the ideals of a developing German national identity. In this engaging historical narrative, Mark Jantzen describes the policies of the Prussian federal and regional governments toward the Mennonites over a hundred-year period and the legal, economic, and social pressures brought to bear on the Mennonites to conform. Mennonite leaders defended the exemptions of their communities'' sons through a long history of petitions and legal pleas, and sought alternative ways, such as charitable donations, to support the state and prove their loyalty. Faced with increasingly punitive legaTrade Review“Jantzen emphasizes not only church and state dynamics but also tensions within the governing party, as well as those within the Mennonite community. The state increased its impact as the population became increasingly nationalistic. Jantzen also observes how theological developments among German Protestants influenced Mennonite pastors and thought leaders. Jantzen portrays an evolving Mennonite identity over a hundred-year period. His book makes a significant contribution to understanding the richness, diversity, and struggle in the Mennonite story.” —Mennonite Weekly Review“Mennonite German Soldiers offers a fascinating, carefully researched study of Prussian Mennonites during much of the nineteenth century. The author describes with exacting detail how persistent state and societal pressures coerced Mennonites into becoming ‘good German citizens.’ The book is organized into ten chapters, the last including observations on how profoundly the self-understanding of this Mennonite community changed, resulting in a culturally adapted Scriptural hermeneutic.” —Mennonite Brethren Herald“[A] fascinating analysis of how Prussian Mennonites adapted so thoroughly between 1772 and 1880 to German national identity and its attendant military responsibilities. . . . Jantzen deftly combines social, political, and family history along with the more traditional religious and political narratives to show us how Mennonites, as individuals, members of their communities, and family members, altered their religious identity. He also reveals the shifting attitudes and approaches taken by various levels and iterations of the Prussian government." —American Historical Review“This book deserves wide readership. The Mennonite experience in nineteenth-century Prussia/Germany is an intriguing example of the complex negotiations between a religious minority and the modern state. Jantzen’s analysis also holds valuable insights for the contemporary German Integrationsdebatte.” —German Studies Review“This is the first full-length study of a problem peculiar to Mennonites, but with implications for other minority religious groups and mainline churches: the issue of full political participation and enthusiastic military service in defense of shared national values. . . . This is a thoroughly researched work, graced by a broad view and written with a clear persuasive style that exhibits frequent poetic touches.” —The Mennonite Quarterly Review“In this engaging historical narrative, Mark Jantzen describes the policies of the Prussian federal and regional governments toward the Mennonites over a hundred-year period and the legal, economic, and social pressures brought to bear on the Mennonites to conform. . . . The public debates over their place in Prussian society shed light on a multi-confessional German past and on the dissemination of nationalist values.” —Canadian Mennonite“Jantzen’s study is highly recommended for anyone interested in Mennonite history. In addition to helping readers better understand the history of this important segment of the Mennonite past, it also sheds light on the character and identity of Mennonites from this community, who migrated to Russia and from there to North America and Latin America.” —Catholic Historical Review“With this highly informative volume, Professor Jantzen takes a major step in correcting the relative neglect, at least in English historical literature, of this period of Mennonite history in central Europe. While a number of German studies have addressed significant issues of this stressful century in German Mennonite history, none has done so with the analysis and Sitz im Leben perspective that Jantzen demonstrates.” —Journal of Mennonite Studies“In his remarkable study of Mennonites in the Prussian East, Mark Jantzen convincingly demonstrates how an examination of a seemingly marginal religious minority can make significant contributions to understanding larger historical processes, in this case those that shaped Prussia and Germany and the development of the modern state in Western Europe.” —Mennonite Life“This abundantly documented study explores the course of acculturation of the Mennonites, who from the sixteenth century on settled in the Vistula Delta and became Prussian subjects in the first partition of Poland. . . . That Jantzen’s discussion of the two literary works frames his social and political interpretation is also a welcome example of how productive it can be to combine one’s specialization with different approaches to history.” —Church History

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Book SynopsisHow and why did the images of the crucified Christ and his grieving mother achieve such prominence, inspiring unparalleled religious creativity as well such imitative extremes as celibacy and self-flagellation? To answer this question, Fulton ranges over developments in liturgical performance, private prayer, doctrine, and art.Trade ReviewFulton's sophisticated analysis of medieval prayer and liturgy reexamines the medieval conceptions of judgement, passion and salvation, and presents valuable new insights into the developements of the cult of the suffering Jesus and the compassionate Virgin Mary. This is truly an important book. Choice This intellectual tour de force... paints in breathtaking strokes a gorgeous tapestry of the loyal devotion to the Man of Sorrows and the Mater Dolorosa. Publishers Weekly The book offers remarkable depth as well as breadth in a most commendable manner. Library Journal Fulton in this extraordinary book reconstructs the early history of devotion to the human and, ultimately, suffering Christ, from late antiquity through the age of Anselm of Canterbury, Peter Abaelard, Bernard of Clairvaux, and Peter Damian... A work of extraordinary erudition, this book revolutionizes our knowledge of medieval spirituality. International Review of Biblical Studies [Fulton's] magisterial book constitutes a distinguished contribution to the history of empathy. -- Karl F. Morrison Journal of Religion This is a courageous book. Fulton is party to no trend, faction, or fashion...I have not read a book in many years that taught me so much or moved me so deeply as this one. -- Thomas F. X. Noble Theological Studies Of interest to medievalists across the disciplines of history, art history, religious studies, and literature. -- Wanda Zemler-Cizewski, Marquette University Speculum Fulton displays an expert knowledge of a most impressive array of sources including theology, liturgy, hagiography, and religious art. -- Mary F. Thurlkill Religious Studies Review Fulton's clarity of thought and thoroughness of explication make her study as compelling as it is challenging. -- Marsha L. Dutton Catholic Historical Review One of the most subtle, moving, and important books in medieval religious history published over the last several decades. -- Kevin Madigan History of Religions A rich and stimulating study which stands in its own right and also offers potential avenues for future work. -- Sarah Hamilton History: The Journal of the Historical Society This is an important book that will continue to be read for very many years. -- Srah Jane Boss American Historical ReviewTable of ContentsPart 1. "Christus Patiens" 1. History, Conversion, and the Saxon Christ 2. Apocalypse, Reform, and the Suffering Savior 3. Praying to the Crucified Christ Part 2. "Maria Compatiens" 4. Praying to the Mother of the Crucified Judge 5. The Seal of the Mother Bride 6. The Voice of My Beloved, Knocking 7. Once Upon a Time... 8. "Commortua, Commoriens, Consepulta"

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Book SynopsisA fresh examination of one of the most contentious issues in runic scholarship - magical or not? The runic alphabet, in use for well over a thousand years, was employed by various Germanic groups in a variety of ways, including, inevitably, for superstitious and magical rites. Formulaic runic words were inscribed onto small items that could be carried for good luck; runic charms were carved on metal or wooden amulets to ensure peace or prosperity. There are invocations and allusions to pagan and Christian gods and heroes, to spirits of disease, and even to potential lovers. Few such texts are completely unique to Germanic society, and in fact, most of the runic amulets considered in this book show wide-ranging parallels from a variety of European cultures. The question ofwhether runes were magical or not has divided scholarship in the area. Early criticism embraced fantastic notions of runic magic - leading not just to a healthy scepticism, but in some cases to a complete denial of any magical element whatsoever in the runic inscriptions. This book seeks to re-evaulate the whole question of runic sorcery, attested to not only in the medieval Norse literature dealing with runes but primarily in the fascinating magical texts of the runic inscriptions themselves. Dr MINDY MCLEOD teaches in the Department of Linguistics, Deakin University, Melbourne; Dr BERNARD MEES teaches in the Department of History at the University of Melbourne.Trade ReviewThe book gives the most very complete survey available of possibly magico-religious runic inscriptions and in this respect it is very useful. * SAGA-BOOK XXXII *

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Book SynopsisThis volume addresses the means and ends of sacrificial speculation by inviting a selected group of specialists in the fields of philosophy, history of religions, and indology to examine philosophical modes of sacrificial speculation - especially in Ancient India and Greece - and consider the commonalities of their historical raison d'etre. Scholars have long observed, yet without presenting any transcultural grand theory on the matter, that sacrifice seems to end with (or even continue as) philosophy in both Ancient India and Greece. How are we to understand this important transformation that so profoundly changed the way we think of religion (and philosophy as opposed to religion) today? Some of the complex topics inviting closer examination in this regard are the interiorisation of ritual, ascetism and self-sacrifice, sacrifice and cosmogony, the figure of the philosopher-sage, transformations and technologies of the self, analogical reasoning, the philosophy of ritual, vegetarianism, and metempsychosis.Table of ContentsIntroductionPeter Jackson & Anna-Pya SjodinI: HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE APPROACHES TO RITUAL THOUGHT IN ANCIENT INDIA AND ARCHAIC GREECE1. The Principle of Equivalence and the Interiorization of Ritual: The 'End' of Ritual?Stephanie Jamison, UCLA2. Ritual as Abstract Action Clemens Cavallin, University of Gothenburg3. Lord over this Whole World: Agency and Philosophy in Brhadaranyaka Upanisad Anna-Pya Sjodin4. 'The End of Sacrifice' and the Absence of 'Religion': The Peculiar Case of IndiaGerald James Larson, University of California, Santa Barbara5. The Crisis of SacrificePeter JacksonII: RITUAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN LATE ANTIQUITY6. The End of Sacrifice RevisitedGuy Stroumsa, University of Oxford (Emeritus)7. The All as logike thusia Jorgen Podemann Sorensen, University of Copenhagen8. No End to Sacrifice in HermetismChristian Bull, Bergen University9. Beyond righteousness and transgressionJorgen Magnusson, Mid-Sweden University10. Sacrificial Subjectivity: On Transformative Faith in the Pauline Letters Hans Ruin, Sodertorn UniversityIII: REPERCUSSIONS OF SACRIFICE IN WESTERN PHILOSOPHY11. Philosophical sacrificeMarcia Sa Cavalcante Schuback, Sodertorn University

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Book SynopsisThérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897), also known as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, is popularly named the Little Flower. A Carmelite nun, doctor of the church, and patron of a score of causes, she was famously acclaimed by Pope Pius X as the greatest saint of modern times. Thérèse is not only one of the most beloved saints of the Catholic Church but perhaps the most revered woman of the modern age. Pope John Paul II described her as a living icon of God. Her autobiography Story of a Soul has been translated into sixty languages. Having long transcended national and linguistic boundaries, she has crossed even religious ones. As daughter of Allah, she is venerated widely in Islamic cultures. Therese has been the subject of innumerable biographies and treatises, ranging from hagiographies to attacks on her intelligence and mental health. Thomas R. Nevin has gained access to many untapped archival materials and previously unpublished photographs. As a consequence he is able toTrade ReviewThis is a full and scholarly account... interesting and intructive, with a wealth of fascinating detail, and will appeal both to old friends of Thérèse and to those who are meeting for the first time 'the greatest saint of modern times'. * Susan Leslie, Mount Carmel *

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Book SynopsisIan Shaw charts the story of Christianity from its birth and infancy among a handful of followers of Jesus Christ, through its years of development into a global religious movement, spanning continents and cultures and transcending educational and social backgrounds.Trade ReviewWhat an original idea. Ian Shaw has presented the current scholarship in church history in a very engaging way. I hope this book is widely read... An absolutely outstanding volume! * Ian Randall, Senior Research Fellow, Spurgeon’s College *‘Christians today have largely lost their historical memory, and it is no surprise that as a result many are struggling to agree on the right way ahead for the church. Ian Shaw’s remarkable book, encompassing in one volume the entire chronological and geographical range of Christian history, will prove invaluable in helping Christians to recover their historical memory and hence to find wisdom for the future.’ * Brian Stanley, Professor of World Christianity, University of Edinburgh. *‘Believers need to know the story of their own faith, and Christianity: the Biography is a great place to start. It covers fascinating figures, movements, and trends across two millennia without ever getting bogged down or side-tracked. It is not only clear and accessible, but also inspiring and wise.’ * Timothy Larsen, McManis Professor of Christian Thought, Wheaton College *This is . . . an immense achievement of breadth of scope, clarity of focus, and fair-mindedness. It should have a starred place on every ordination-training reading list. * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisSound theological method is a necessary prerequisite for good theological work. This accessible introduction surveys contemporary theological methodology by presenting leading thinkers of the 20th and 21st centuries as models. The book presents the strengths and weaknesses in each of the major options. Rather than favoring one specific position, it helps students of theology think critically so they can understand and develop their own theological method.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: The Context of Modern Theology1. The Work of Theology2. Neo-orthodox and Ressourcement Theologies3. Theologies of Correlation4. Postliberal Theologies5. Evangelical Theologies6. Political Theologies7. Feminist Theologies8. Theologies of Religious Pluralism and Comparative TheologyConclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?Suggested Reading List for StudentsIndex

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Book SynopsisIn the first half of the fifteenth century, Rome and the papal court were caught between conflicting realities--between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, conciliarism and papalism, an image of a restored republic and a dream of a papal capital. Elizabeth McCahill explores the transformation of Rome's ancient legacy into a potent cultural myth.Trade ReviewIn this masterful, original, and fluidly-written study of the intellectual and cultural milieu of the early Roman Renaissance, Elizabeth McCahill provides a rich and nuanced context for some of the most important humanist and artistic projects of the age. Readers of this book cannot help but come away with a richer and deeper appreciation of this foundational but surprisingly neglected era in early modern history. -- Brian Curran, Pennsylvania State UniversityMeticulous and riveting, Reviving the Eternal City offers a multifaceted history of the Roman Curia under Martin V and Eugenius IV. Through incisive readings of sources as diverse as a vintner's diary, the letters of established (and struggling) humanists, papal bulls and Filarete's bronze doors, McCahill proves that Rome's renewal began long before the first 'Renaissance' pope donned the tiara. -- Sarah Ross, Boston CollegeUsing unknown and little-studied sources, Elizabeth McCahill argues that Rome in the first half of the fifteenth century represented a site of intense study, contemporary cultural fascination, and, above all, interpretation. She offers readers access to worlds often hidden, from backstairs intrigue at the papal court to the desks of solitary scholars. This book is a fine example of socially-informed intellectual history, written with exemplary clarity and incisive intelligence. -- Christopher Celenza, Johns Hopkins University

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Book SynopsisThe Byzantine mystic, writer, and monastic leader Symeon the New Theologian is considered a saint by the Orthodox Church. The Life was written more than 30 years after Symeon’s death by his disciple and apologist Niketas Stethatos. This translation, based on an authoritative Greek edition, makes it accessible to English readers for the first time.

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Book SynopsisThe Bhagavad Gita, perhaps the most famous of all Indian scriptures, is universally regarded as one of the world's spiritual and literary masterpieces. Richard Davis tells the story of this venerable and enduring book, from its origins in ancient India to its reception today as a spiritual classic that has been translated into more than seventy-fivTrade ReviewSelected for WGBH News "Here are the books we read this year that we think you'll love" 2014 "In his masterful new biography of the Gita--part of an excellent Princeton series dedicated to the lives of great religious books--Richard Davis, a professor of religion at Bard College, shows us, in subtle and stunning detail, how the text of the Gita has been embedded in one political setting after another, changing its meaning again and again over the centuries."--Wendy Doniger, New York Review of Books "In the 21st century, The Gita continues to thrive. India's present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, gives it out as a gift on his trips abroad. Discourses on The Gita by spiritual leaders are a part of the cultural life of every major Indian city. Some Indians disagree with its vision of ethics or consider it a relic of the past; but even they, too, must engage with it closely in order to refute it. Mr. Davis's book is an ideal introduction to the text, showing how the meanings of a book reside not just in its words but its life in history."--Chandrahas Choudhury, Wall Street Journal "Like all the great religious books featured in this superb series from Princeton University Press, the Gita has transcended the circumstances of its birth. Rival schools of Hindu theology have risen from various turns of Krishna's phrases, while Westerners have seen echoes of their own traditions. In modern India, Gandhi thought the Gita reflected the eternal battle between light and dark in every human heart, and in the drive for Indian independence, even secular nationalists championed it as a patriotic text. The Gita and the moral issues it raises are still alive."--Brian Bethune, Macleans "In The Bhagavad Gita: A Biography, the latest in the series Lives of Great Religious Books, Davis crisply summarizes this oft-quoted Hindu scripture, in which Krishna reveals his true identity as the 'imperishable Lord of All Beings.'"--Donna Seaman, Booklist "The Gita is one of the oldest and most fascinating texts ever written, and I love how its 'biography' comes to life in this new book. It's a living, breathing text that has constantly been in motion since its origin... I should mention this book is part of a new series (Lives of Great Religious Books) published by Princeton University Press. Next on my reading list are the biographies of The Tibetan Book of the Dead and Augustine's Confessions."--April Peavey, WGBH "Davis deftly traces the many reincarnations of this 700-verse poem over the past two millennia, both in India and in the West."--Fiona Capp, Sydney Morning Herald "[The Bhagavad Gita: A Biography] appears in the worthy 'Lives of Great Religious Books' series, which takes a novel approach to 'great books.' Davis's execution of this approach is superb ... Davis neatly organizes a great deal of material and he presents it in utterly accessible prose. This is an easy read - and a great one too."--Choice "Davis ... provides a comprehensive, detailed and lucid account of the ways that the Gita has lived over the centuries."--Cover Drive "A comprehensive, detailed and lucid account of the ways that the Gita has lived over the centuries."--Sudhirendar Sharma, Speaking Tree "This is a fascinating work; so much is packed in its 243 pages. Being thoroughly researched and documented this serves as a primer on Gita. And also a template for those who would like to study the impact of religious texts on the life and history of human race."--Paulson Pulikottil, Academia "So much in 243 small pages! Like the Sacred Books of the East in the nineteenth century, the Princeton series offers a fresh canon of global stature; thanks to Davis's superb retelling of the history of this powerful, influential, living classic, the Gita has its honoured place on that shelf."--Francis X. Clooney, Religions of South Asia "A highly enjoyable volume that will be of interest to a large educated audience, to religious specialists, and to historians of modern and colonial India, among others... This volume will undoubtedly and quickly become a classic introduction to the Bhagavad-G?t?, or even more generally to classes on Hinduism."--Pierre-Julien Harter, Journal of ReligionTable of ContentsList of illustrations vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Chapter 1 The Bhagavad Gita in the Time of Its Composition 10 Chapter 2 Krishna and His Gita in Medieval India 43 Chapter 3 Passages from India 72 Chapter 4 Krishna, the Gita, and the Indian Nation 115 Chapter 5 Modern Gitas: Translations 154 Chapter 6 The Gita in Our Time: Performances 178 Epilogue The Bhagavad Gita in Great Time 204 Notes 211 Glossary of Sanskrit terms 227 Select English translations of the Bhagavad Gita 229 Further readings 233 Index 237

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Book SynopsisIs 'newer' really 'better'? We often assume so, but if we do treat the past as inferior we will ignore the legacy of history, and thus will find ourselves stranded on the tiny desert island of our own moment in time. In particular, this applies to Christian theology, which should be thought, and lived, corporately by the church down through the ages. The remedy to 'chronological snobbery' is, as C. S. Lewis put it, 'to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds'. Such is the motivation behind Michael Reeves' introduction to a selection of influential or significant Christian theologians. Furthermore, by 'sitting on the shoulders of giants ... our glance can take in more things and reach farther than theirs' (Bernard of Chartres). This accessible and informative companion volume to The Breeze of the Centuries covers Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, Friedrich Schleiermacher and Karl Barth. Each chapter begins with a brief biography and some background, then surveys each theologian's major work or works, gives a timeline for historical context, and ends with guidance for further reading.

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Book SynopsisScholars have come to realize that we can and need to speak of a twin birth of Christianity and Judaism, not a genealogy in which one is parent to the other. In this book, the author develops a revised understanding of the interactions between nascent Christianity and nascent Judaism in late antiquity.Trade Review"Daniel Boyarin has done it again. With this book . . . he has again provoked, challenged, and enlightened us. With his usual clear, crisp, and sometimes sharp-edged writing, with his consistently critical engagement of ancient primary and modern and postmodern secondary interpretive texts and theories, Boyarin has forced us to think again and in some respects in radically different ways and on radically different terms about. . .the 'making' of Christianity and Judiasm." -- Journal of the American Academy of Religion"This is a rich, stimulating and compelling work. Boyarin's writing is complex and full fo irony and humor. . . . It is fascinating and, like a good drama, draws the reader in as if to solve a mystery. . . . Even those how are not in the field of ancient Judiasm . . . will find much of interest in this book." -- Hebrew Studies"This volume highlights new developments in understanding Christian and Jewish origins. It is intended to be the beginning of a new investigation of the religious histories of rabbinic Jews and Christians in late antiquity. It is, according to Boyarin, to be read more as a series of hypotheses than as a series of conclusions. Nevertheless it is a very exciting publication. . . . I find the central thesis compelling, even astonishing, but quite exhilirating. We are much indebted to someone who has the vision to see the past in ways most of us never fully envisaged." -- Journal of Beliefs & Values" . . . [This] book is especially worthwhile for anyone interested in the evolution of Christian and Jewish self-understanding in Late Antiquity." -- Religious Studies Review"Boyarin tells this story with grace and impressive erudition. Previously unnoticed connections are established that shed rich light on the developments under study. Boyarin has placed the separation of Judaism and Christianity into the historical context of real people attempting to understand themselves and one another, and the once-familiar story will never again look the same. He is to be congratulated for a valuable contribution." -- The Jewish Quarterly Review"Boyarin's exciting book has shown us that the parting of the ways between Christianity and Judaism never really occurred, at least not in the way scholars have imagined." -- History of ReligionsTable of ContentsContents 1. 2. 3. 4. Appendix to Chapter 4:

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Book SynopsisFrom its beginnings, the Church has presented itself as a human phenomenon that carries the divine within it. This book is the final volume in McGill-Queen's University Press's trilogy of Luigi Giussani's writings, and explores the Church's definition of itself as both human and divine and evaluates the truth of this claim.

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Book SynopsisAn accessible introduction to pre-modern Islam, showcasing the individuals caliphs, law-makers, theologians, poets, mystics and scholars who shaped the course of early Islamic history.Trade Review'A beautifully written set of brief, vividly drawn portraits' - Times Higher EducationTable of Contents1. Islam and Empire 600–850 • 2. The Islamic Commonwealth 850–1050 • 3. The Sunni Synthesis 1050–1250 • 4. Conflict & Change 1250–1550

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Book SynopsisAn unusual perspective on the cultural and political milieu in existence at the time of the emergence of Christianity. Events such as the Persian Wars are examined with a view to understanding the spiritual struggles raging between those forces that wished to promote a newly emerging human consciousness, based on independent thought and a growing sense of egocentricity; and those forces that wished to preserve the authoritarian structures of the past, which were rooted in now decadent mystery practices. In particular the role of Essenes receives prominence, given that Bock was writing prior to the discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In the second half of the book, Bock investigates the esoteric biographies of some of the key figures surrounding Jesus Christ, and demonstrates how their destinies were affected by the encounters with the being of Christ.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Stephen J. Shoemaker cogently argues that late antique Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, as well as early Islam, are all deeply imprinted by a kind of apocalypticism that ascribes a crucial role to imperial conquest and triumph." * Nicolai Sinai, University of Oxford *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAltered States genuinely moves forward in laying a path for new, insightful, and valuable information on the American Buddhism that is developing in our global society. D. E. Osto's groundbreaking research will be appreciated by scholars, and their accessible style will be enjoyed by nonacademic readers. -- Charles Prebish, author of Luminous Passage: The Practice and Study of Buddhism in AmericaAltered States deftly guides us through the neglected territory of psychedelic Buddhism. This is a fascinating story, full of vivid characters and supported by solid research. Still, I believe it makes a greater contribution by situating these practices and persons within the larger contexts of tantra, of American religion, and of cutting-edge neuropsychology and consciousness studies. The result is—to use le mot juste—mind blowing. -- Franz Metcalf, author of What Would Buddha Do?: 101 Answers to Life's Daily Dilemmas"[Altered States] mixes statistics and surveys, historical overview, personal experience, and ethnographic texture to uncover the intertwining history of two fast-growing movements in American spirituality.... This overview will appeal to anyone interested in Buddhism, psychedelic possibilities, and understanding how both are forging a controversial new American religious experience. * Publishers Weekly *Osto’s book is exceptional in its ability to focus the conversation about entheogens within religious perspectives. . . . They also point to more complex questions regarding the nature of subjectivity, experience, and scientific study. * Religious Theory *Of interest to anyone who wants to explore the intersection between traditional religion and altered states of consciousness, be they induced by psychedelics or any other means. * OPEN *Provocative.... The book is worth buying, reading, and quoting. * PsycCritiques *Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Buddhism and the Psychedelic Connection2. The Psychedelic Revolution3. The Buddhist Revolution4. Opening the Door: Psychedelics as a Gateway to Buddhist Practice5. Closing the Door: The Fifth Precept and Graduating from Psychedelics6. Keeping the Door Open: Psychedelics as an Adjunct to Buddhist Practice7. Are Psychedelics "the True Dharma"?: Debates, Presuppositions, and Philosophical IssuesConclusionsPostscriptNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIn 1581, after four days of debating six leading Anglican divines at the Tower of London, Jesuit Edmund Campion (1540-1581) was put to death because he would not deny his faith. This volume contains Catholic manuscripts of those debates.Trade Review...provides invaluable insights into the mind and soul of Edmund Campion, and highlights many of the issues that so tragically tore his world asunder. * —Catholic Historical Review *

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Book SynopsisThis volume examines the major cultural, religious, political, and urban changes that took place in the Iranian world of Inner and Central Asia in the transition from the pre-Islamic to the Islamic periods.One of the major civilizations of the first millennium was that of the Iranian linguistic and cultural world, which stretched from today's Iraq to what is now the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. No other region of the world underwent such radical transformation, which fundamentally altered the course of world history, as this area did during the centuries of transition from the pre-Islamic to the Islamic period. This transformation included the religious victory of Islam over Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, and the other religions of the area; the military and political wresting of Inner Asia from the Chinese to the Islamic sphere of primary cultural influence; and the shifting of Central Asia from a culturally and demographically Iranian civilization to a TurTrade Review“The History and Culture of Iran and Central Asia makes substantial new contributions to our understanding of a transitionary period.” —Jamsheed K. Choksy, author of Conflict and Cooperation"The contributions to this volume are uniformly of high quality, representing commendable international collaboration between Asian, European, and American scholars based in six different countries. Anybody pursuing the history of Central Asia in the first millennium CE will find material of interest in this volume."—Journal of the American Oriental Society * Journal of the American Oriental Society *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments 1. D.G. Tor, Introduction: The Enduring Significance of the Iranian World in the First Millennium CE: Transformation and Continuity I. Iranian Central Asia in Late Antiquity 2. Frantz Grenet, “Types of town planning in ancient Iranian cities: new considerations” 3. Nicholas Sims-Williams, “The proto-Sogdian inscriptions of Kultobe: New fragments and new reconstructions” 4. Etsuko Kageyama, "Xian Temples of the Sogdian Colonies in China" 5. Yutaka Yoshida, “Three scenarios for the historical background of the Xi’an Sino-Pahlavi inscription — Post Sasanian Zoroastrian traders?” II. From the Pre-Islamic to the Islamic 6. Michael Shenkar, “The Arab Conquest and the Collapse of the Sogdian Civilization” 7. Minoru Inaba, “Wukong’s itinerary towards India: Central Asia in the mid-eighth century” 8. Rocco Rante, “Evolution of the habitat in Paykend” 9. Arezou Azad, “Notes on Islamisation Narratives in the Faḍāʾil-i Balkh” III. The Transformation of the Pre-Islamic Past 10. Sören Stark, “The New Garden of the Amir: Samanid Land-Development at the Borders of the Bukhara Oasis” 11. Louise Marlow “Al-Thaʿālibī’s Iranian Past: Assimilation and Aesthetics” 12. Gabrielle van den Berg, “Representations of the Pre-Islamic Past in Early Persian Court Poetry” 13. Dilnoza Duturaeva “From Turkistan to Tibet: The Qarakhanids and the Tsongkha Tribal Confederation”

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Book SynopsisDynasties Intertwined traces the turbulent relationship between the Zirids of Ifriqiya and the Normans of Sicily during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. In doing so, it reveals the complex web of economic, political, cultural, and military connections that linked the two dynasties to each other and to other polities across the medieval Mediterranean. Furthermore, despite the contemporary interfaith holy wars happening around the Zirids and Normans, their relationship was never governed by an overarching ideology like jihad or crusade. Instead, both dynasties pursued policies that they thought would expand their power and wealth, either through collaboration or conflict. The relationship between the Zirids and Normans ultimately came to a violent end in the 1140s, when a devastating drought crippled Ifriqiya. The Normans seized this opportunity to conquer lands across the Ifriqiyan coast, bringing an end to the Zirid dynasty and forming the Norman kingdom of ATable of ContentsIntroduction: Writing the History of the Zirids and Normans 1. Geographic Orientations and the Rise of the Fatimids 2. The Contest for Sicily in the Eleventh Century 3. Commerce and Conflict from 1087 to 1123 4. The End of the Emirate and the Beginning of the Kingdom 5. The Norman Kingdom of Africa 6. The Fall of Norman Africa and the Legacy of Zirid-Norman Interactions Epilogue

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Book SynopsisGiordano Bruno's The Ash Wednesday Supper presents a revolutionary cosmology founded on the new Copernican astronomy that Bruno extends to infinite dimensions, filling it with an endless number of planetary systems.Trade Review"The volume’s most important contributions to Bruno studies are the extended "Notes" that offer background, interpretation, and explanation of Bruno’s provocative debate." -- Paul Richard Blum, Loyola University Maryland * Isis, vol 110, 1 *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. A Note on the Text 3. Complete Italian Text: newly edited according to the so-called vulgate version 4. Translation of the Dedication (+ notes) 5. Translation of Dialogue 1 (+ notes) 6. Translation of Dialogue 2 (+ notes) 7. Translation of Dialogue 3 (+ notes) 8. Translation of Dialogue 4 (+ notes) 9. Translation of Dialogue 5 (+ notes) 10. Appendix: Alternative Italian text of folio D 11. Appendix: Alternative English translation of folio D 12. Bibliography of Cited Works

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Book SynopsisClassifying Christians investigates late antique Christian heresiologies as ethnographies that catalogued and detailed the origins, rituals, doctrines, and customs of the heretics in explicitly polemical and theological terms. Oscillating between ancient ethnographic evidence and contemporary ethnographic writing, Todd S. Berzon argues that late antique heresiology shares an underlying logic with classical ethnography in the ancient Mediterranean world. By providing an account of heresiological writing from the second to fifth century, Classifying Christians embeds heresiology within the historical development of imperial forms of knowledge that have shaped western culture from antiquity to the present.Trade Review"Berzon's book offers a potent epistemological reflection on the production, organization, and limits of knowledge in late antiquity... a finely articulated meditation on the effects of theological and ethnographic ancient list-making." * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *"Classifying Christians is a remarkable book... indispensable." * Reading Religion *"Todd S. Berzon’s Classifying Christians: Ethnography, Heresiology, and the Limits of Knowledge in Late Antiquity partakes of these rich conversations by offering a sustained and convincing reflection on the adaptations, innovations, and antinomies of heresy-writing in the late ancient period." * Ancient Jew Review *"Classifying Christians is a learned, wide-ranging, and exciting new study on ancient Christian heresiology... we look forward to Todd Berzon’s next [volume]." * Histos *"This volume clears more space in our scholarly discourse for several topics which are only recently starting to receive a fraction of the attention they deserve." * Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum *"Classifying Christians is a splendid and challenging study, a must-read for scholars in the field of Late Antique theological polemics. . . . immersive and engaging while intellectually challenging at the same time." * Augustiniana *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction: Writing People, Writing Religion 1. Heresiology as Ethnography: The Ethnographic Disposition 2. Comparing Theologies and Comparing Peoples: The Customs, Doctrines, and Dispositions of the Heretics 3. Contesting Ethnography: Heretical Models of Human and Cosmic Plurality 4. Christianized Ethnography: Paradigms of Heresiological Knowledge 5. Knowledge Fair and Foul: The Rhetoric of Heresiological Inquiry 6. The Infinity of Continuity: Epiphanius of Salamis and the Limits of the Ethnographic Disposition 7. From Ethnography to List: Transcribing and Traversing Heresy Epilogue: The Legacy of Heresiology Bibliography Index

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