Description
Book SynopsisSpirituality and Law is an in-depth evaluation of martyrdom impulses in Christianity and Judaism. Author Abraham Gross analyzes the spiritual yearning of martyrdom in each religion over a period of 1,500 years, from the 2nd to the 16th century. Special attention is given to the Roman period, 9th century Cordova, and 13th-15th century Franciscans.
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Martyrs and Martyrdom in the Ancient World: Christian Martyrdom During the Roman Period; The Hadrianic Persecutions: Rabbi Hanina ben Teradion and Rabbi Akiva Chapter 3 The Middle Ages: Christianity; The Martyrs of Cordova; The Franciscan Tradition; Summary; Judaism; CourtingKiddush ha-Shem in Jewish Folklore; Medieval Ashkenaz; Flee or Die?; Hasidei Ashkenaz; One Case of Courting Death-A German Proselyte Chapter 4 Guilt, Expiation, and Curing Death in the Sixteenth Century: John Bradford: A Disguised Suicide; Solomon Malkho: The Spiritual Biography of a "New Christian"; First Period: Portugal-A "New Christian" Between Judaism and Christianity; Second Period: Chapter 5 Appendix A: Don Lope de Vera y Alarcon: A Spanish Proselyte-Martyr Chapter 6 Appendix B: Courting Martyrdom in a Jewish-Christian Polemic from Seventeenth Century Amsterdam Chapter 7 Appendix C: Some Early Modern Rabbinic Sources Related to Courting Death Chapter 8 Appendix D: Hebrew Sources Chapter 9 Appendix E: Malkho's Battle Banner Chapter 10 Selected Bibliography Chapter 11 Index
