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Overview
This is an unprecedented collection of nearly seventy Late Antique primary religious texts. These texts--all in new English translation and many appearing in English for the first time--represent every major religious current from the late first century until the rise of Islam. Produced through the efforts of thirty-six leading scholars in the field, they constitute a comprehensive view of religious practice in Late Antiquity.
Religious life and performance during this period comprised diverse, often unusual practices. Philosophical ascent, magic, legal pronouncement, hymnography, dietary and sexual restriction, and rhetoric were all part of this deeply fascinating world. Religious and political identity often intertwined, as reflected in the Roman persecution of Christians. And a fluid boundary between religion and superstition was contested in daily life. Many practices, including ascetic training, crossed religious boundaries. Others, such as "incubation" at specific temples and certain divination rites, were distinctive practices of individual groups and orders.
Intrinsically interesting, the practice of religion in the Late Antique also edifies modern-day religious life. As this volume shows, the origins of the contemporary Western religious terrain can be gleaned in this period. Rabbinic Judaism flourished and spread. Christianity developed still-important theological categories and structures. And even movements that did not survive intact--such as Neoplatonism and the once-powerful Manichaean churches--continue to influence religion today.
This rich sourcebook includes discussions of asceticism, religious organization, ritual, martyrdom, religion's social implications, law, and theology. Its unique emphasis on practice and its inclusion of texts translated from lesser-known languages advance the study of religious history in several directions. A strong interdisciplinary orientation will reward scholars and students of religion, theology, gender studies, classical literatures, and history. Each text is accompanied by an introduction and a bibliography for further reading and research, making the book appropriate for use in any university or seminary classroom.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780691188164 |
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Publisher: | Princeton University Press |
Publication date: | 06/05/2018 |
Series: | Princeton Readings in Religions , #1 |
Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
Format: | eBook |
Pages: | 527 |
File size: | 38 MB |
Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Princeton Readings in ReligionsConventions
Contributors
Introduction Richard Valantasis
Inventing the Individual: Biography
1. The First Sahidic Life of Pachomius - James E. Goehring
2. Philostratus of Athens, Life of Apollonius of Tyana - Megan H. Williams
3. Porphyry, On the Life of Plotinus and the Order of His Books - Richard Valantasis
Refashioning the Person: Asceticism
4. Evagrius Ponticus on Prayer and Anger - Columba Stewart OSB
5. Pseudo-Athanasius, Discourse on Salvation to a Virgin - Teresa M. Shaw
6. Basil of Caesarea, The "Prooemium" of the Regulaefusius tractatae - Lawrence J. Altepeter
7. Sermons of Columbanus - Arthur G. Holder
8. Manichaean Asceticism - Jason David BeDuhn
Founding Religious Movements: Organizations
9. Talmudic Texts and Jewish Social Life - Daniel Boyarin
10. Julian "the Apostate," Against the Galileans - Elizabeth Geraldine Burr
11. A Thriving Native Cult in the Fifth Century and Its Demise under Coptic Monks - David Frankfurter
12. The Cologne Mani Codex - Ellen Bradshaw Aitken
13. Tales of Holy Fools - Derek Krueger
Locating Religion in Society: Community
14. Vision for the City: Nisibis in Ephrem's Hymns on Nicomedia - David Bundy
15. Acts of Thomas: Scene One - David G. Hunter
16. An Anonymous Letter to a Woman Named Susanna - Maureen A. Tilley
17. A Plea to a Local God for a Husband's Attentions - David Frankfurter
18. Bishop Avitus of Vienne to His Excellency Ansmundus - Maureen A. Tilley
19. Chrysostom's Catecheses: A Hermeneutic of Social Institutions - Arthur B. Shippee
20. John Chrysostom, Sermons on City Life - Blake Leyerle
Regulating Religious Expression: Law
21. Laws on Religion from the Theodosian and Justinianic Codes - Matthew C Mirow and Kathleen A. Kelley
22. The Acts of the Council of Aquileia (381 C.E.) - Kenneth B. Steinhauser
23. Canons of the Council in Trullo (692 C.E.) - James C. Skedros
Creating Religious Ceremonial: Ritual
24. The Mithras Liturgy and Sepher Ha-Razim - Kimberly B. Stratton
25. Manichaean Ritual - Jason David BeDuhn
26. The Seal of the Merkavah - Michael D. Swartz
27. Anonymous Spanish Correspondence; or the Letter of the "She-ass" - Virginia Burrus and Tracy Keefer
28. Amuletic Invocations of Christ for Health and Fortune - David Frankfurter
Singing Divine Praises: Hymnody
29. The Hymns of Ambrose - Carl P. E. Springer
30. Hymns to Mary, the Mother of God, the Theotokos - Vasiliki Limberis
31. Manichaean Hymnody - Jason David BeDuhn
32. An Isis Aretalogy from Kyme in Asia Minor, First Century B.C.E. - Gail Corrington Streete
Sacrificing Self to God: Martyrology
33. The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity - Maureen A. Tilley
34. The Martyrs of Lyons - Frederick W Weidmann
35. The Martyrdom of Habbib the Deacon - Robert Doran
36. 4 Maccabees - Clayton N. Jefford
Enlivening Thought: Philosophy and Theology
37. Gregory Nazianzen, Homily on the Nativity of Christ - Nonna Verna Harrison
38. Texts on Iconoclasm: John of Damascus and the Council of Hiereia - David Vila
39. Asterius of Amasea Ekphrasis on the Holy Martyr Euphernia - Elizabeth A. Castelli
40. Christian Oracle Shrines - David Frankfurter
41. Popular Religious Practices in Fifth-Century Egypt - David Frankfurter
42. The Zenith and Destruction of a Native Egyptian Oracle in 359 C.E. - David Frankfurter
43. Manichaean Theology - Jason David BeDuhn
44. lamblichus, de Mysteriis, Book 1, The de Mysteriis Peter T. Struck
Index
What People are Saying About This
This collection will surely prove to be a gold mine for those of us who teach the religions of late antiquity. It provides a lively and kaleidoscopic view of an entire era of religious activity and development. It will also be a tool for scholars. . . .The emphasis on practice is a completely new feature in a collection of this kind; there is simply nothing like it.
Patricia Cox Miller, author of "Dreams in Late Antiquity"
"This collection will surely prove to be a gold mine for those of us who teach the religions of late antiquity. It provides a lively and kaleidoscopic view of an entire era of religious activity and development. It will also be a tool for scholars. . . .The emphasis on practice is a completely new feature in a collection of this kind; there is simply nothing like it."—Patricia Cox Miller, author of Dreams in Late Antiquity