Description
Book SynopsisExpectations of Justice in the Age of Augustine examines the complex and varying roles Christian bishops played during late antiquity and how their experiences fundamentally affected Christian ideals of divine justice.
Trade Review"Nuanced, erudite, yet accessibly written. . . . Uhalde persuades readers of his arguments not only by his deep, broad knowledge of the primary and secondary literature but also through his compelling sensitivity to the dynamics of human interaction." *
Choice *
"A first-rate piece of scholarship. It deals with a complex issue in an accessible style and offers numerous insights into existing areas of discussion, while remaining firmly grounded in both the primary and secondary literature." *
Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
"This exciting study draws on a remarkable range of sources . . . does an outstanding job of blending intellectual and social history . . . [and] is beautifully written. . . . An exceptional piece of scholarship that makes a genuine contribution to the field." *
Speculum *
"Learned, lucid, and persuasive." *
Catholic Historical Review *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1. Calumny: Well Known Reasons Why Justice Fails
Judicial culture
Juridical solutions: Roman law
Popular responses
The bishop's court
Juridical solutions: canon law
Social bonds and boundaries
2. "Judge Like God": What Bishops Claimed to Expect of Themselves
Between perfection and failure
Traditions of judgment and discernment
Spiritual discernment at work
Alternate traditions of discernment
The exemplary life of bishops
The idea fails
3. Christian Oaths: A Case Study in Practicality over Doctrine
Oaths are social bonds
The public life of oaths
Solemn promises plus some exemptions
Exegetes on swearing
Socialis necessitudo and the need for oaths
Swearing in the land of falsehood
4. Mercy Not Justice: How Penance Became a Worthy Act of Self-Incrimination
A profession of holiness
Preachers of penance
The penitential lives of religious professionals
The heroic lives of penitents
Compunction and discernment for all
The balance of mercy and justice
An end to the scholarly myth of decline and rigorism
Conclusion
Bibliography
Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
