Cult of the Dead: A Brief History of Christianity by Kyle Smith (English) Hardco

Description: Cult of the Dead by Kyle Smith A sweeping cultural history of how Christianity was born from its martyrs. Though it promises eternal life, Christianity was forged in death. Christianity is built upon the legacies of the apostles and martyrs who chose to die rather than renounce the name of their lord. In this innovative cultural history, Kyle Smith shows how a devotion to death has shaped Christianity for two thousand years. For centuries, Christians have cared for their saints, curating their deaths as examples of holiness. Martyrs stories, lurid legends of torture, have been told and retold, translated and rewritten. Martyrs bones are alive in the world, relics pulsing with wonder. Martyrs shrines are still visited by pilgrims, many in search of a miracle. Martyrs have even shaped the Christian conception of time, with each day of the year celebrating the death of a saint. From Roman antiquity to the present, by way of medieval England and the Protestant Reformation, Cult of the Dead tells the fascinating story of how the worlds most widespread religion is steeped in the memory of its martyrs. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Flap "A brilliant, entertaining, and accessible account of the history of martyrdom. Invaluable for anyone interested in understanding the Christian faith."--Bart D. Ehrman, author of Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why "An elegant and enlightening book."--Elizabeth A. Castelli, author of Martyrdom and Memory: Early Christian Culture Making "A sweeping tour through the history of Christianity that makes the familiar seem fresh and dramatically brings to life the remarkable connections across time and space that constitute the Christian story."--Kyle Harper, author of The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire " Cult of the Dead is vivid, readable, and often witty. Taking the reader on a journey from the time of Christ to the seventeenth century, it shows the intimate engagement with death at the heart of Christianity."--Mary Wellesley, author of The Gilded Page: The Secret Lives of Medieval Manuscripts "Masterfully presented. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the significance of pain, torture, and death in the construction of Christian communities from the time of the apostles to the Protestant Reformation."--Kristina Sessa, author of Daily Life in Late Antiquity Author Biography Kyle Smith is Professor of Historical Studies and the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto. An award-winning teacher, he is the author or coauthor of four other books about Christian saints and martyrs. Table of Contents List of Illustrations Preface Introduction 1. The First of the Dead 2. The Names of the Dead 3. The Remains of the Dead 4. The Feasts of the Dead 5. The Living Dead 6. The Miracles of the Dead 7. The War for the Dead 8. The Legends of the Dead Postscript Acknowledgments Notes for Further Reading Bibliography Index Review "Reading this book conveys the feeling of bouncing over bumps at high speed on a sunny day in an all-terrain sports utility vehicle. How can such lugubrious topics provide so much fun? The tale is animated by the telling. With sly wit, subtle humour, agile prose and empathetic imagination, Kyle Smith narrates the growth of one of Christianitys defining traditions." * Times Literary Supplement *"Cult of the Dead is the rare academic book that shows empathy; for the martyrs themselves and for those with devotion to them. . . . Smith does our dearly departed the ultimate favor: He allows the dead to speak once more." * National Catholic Reporter *"For a topic that encompasses millennia of fascinating history, Smiths digestible book offers a compelling and comprehensive introduction to the role of the lives and afterlives of Christianitys martyrs in Western society from late antiquity to the present day." * New Criterion * "In this beautifully produced book. . . Kyle Smith brings alive devotion to the martyrs over the centuries and demonstrates how it helped to shape Christian devotional life, art, architecture, literature, and spirituality." * Journal of Religious History *"Carefully researched and accessible." * CHOICE *"The great accomplishment of Smiths book is that it manages to both revel in the macabre appeal of the martyrs, and, at the same time, take the Christian cult of the dead sympathetically and seriously." * Reading Religion *"The book is lavishly illustrated, including more than a dozen color plates, and the careful attention Smith pays to them, turns these illustrations into an integral part of the story he tells The result is an enjoyable and informative read that will hold the interest of novice and experts alike." * Augustiniana * Review Quote "Reading this book conveys the feeling of bouncing over bumps at high speed on a sunny day in an all-terrain sports utility vehicle. How can such lugubrious topics provide so much fun? The tale is animated by the telling. With sly wit, subtle humour, agile prose and empathetic imagination, Kyle Smith narrates the growth of one of Christianitys defining traditions." Details ISBN0520345169 Author Kyle Smith Short Title Cult of the Dead Publisher University of California Press Language English Year 2022 ISBN-10 0520345169 ISBN-13 9780520345164 Format Hardcover Publication Date 2022-11-08 Subtitle A Brief History of Christianity Imprint University of California Press Place of Publication Berkerley Country of Publication United States NZ Release Date 2022-11-08 US Release Date 2022-11-08 UK Release Date 2022-11-08 Pages 384 Illustrations 29 b-w images, 16 color plates, 1 map DEWEY 235.2 Audience Professional & Vocational AU Release Date 2022-12-29 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:141517460;

Price: 40.13 AUD

Location: Melbourne

End Time: 2024-12-21T08:02:25.000Z

Shipping Cost: 12.97 AUD