Death in the Name of God : Martyrs and Martyrdom in the Western Tradition

• Record Nr.: UNINA9911020466503321
• Autore: Denova Rebecca I
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Newark : , : John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, , 2025; ©2025
• ISBN: 1-394-25295-1; 1-394-25294-3
• Edizione: [1st ed.]
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (481 pages)
• Disciplina: 206.1
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Nota di contenuto: Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Preface -- Chapter I Shared Concepts of Culture and Religion -- Concepts and Terminology -- Religion -- The Universe -- Religious Pluralism and Conversion -- Polytheism and Monotheism -- Myth -- The Concept of Sin -- Acts of Worship/Rituals -- Cult -- Sectarianism -- Official Cults -- Voluntary Cults: The Mysteries -- Religious Festivals -- Divination: Astrology, Oracles, Magicians -- Religion and Society -- Social Class -- Citizenship -- Education -- Collegia -- Slavery -- Ancient Concepts of the Afterlife -- Monism/Dualism -- Funeral Rituals -- Funeral Games -- Judaism/Jews, Christianity/Christians, Islam/Muslims -- Languages/Scriptures -- Polemic and Rhetoric -- Old Testament/Canon -- Gentiles and Pagans -- Faith versus Rituals -- Creative Writing -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter II The Origins of Concepts of the Afterlife/Funeral Rituals -- Mesopotamia -- Enuma Elish -- Creation of Humans -- Views of the Afterlife -- Inanna/Ishtar's Descent -- Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2150-1400 BCE) -- Funeral Rituals -- Ancient Egypt -- The Chronology of Ancient Egypt -- Creation Myths -- The Egyptian Concept of the Person -- The Story of Osiris and Isis -- Funeral Rituals -- Pilgrimage -- Admonition Texts/Wisdom Literature -- Journey to the Land of the Dead -- Hall of Judgment -- Persia -- Zoroastrianism -- Funeral Rituals -- Eschatology -- The Spread of Zoroastrianism -- Justice -- ; Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter III The Traditions of Judaism -- The Story of Ancient Israel -- Who Wrote the Jewish Scriptures? -- Genesis 1-11 -- Abraham -- Sacrifice -- Joseph and His Brothers -- Exodus -- Leviticus -- Purity/Impurity -- Numbers and Deuteronomy -- Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings -- 1 and 2 Samuel -- The Rise of Kingship.; Split into Two Kingdoms -- Disaster Strikes -- Babylonian Empire -- Persia -- Diaspora -- Role of the Prophets -- New Hope -- A Paradigmatic Shift and a New Disaster -- Antiochus Epiphanes IV (Syria, 216-154 BCE) -- Pompey and the Rule of Rome -- The Herodians -- Direct Rule of Judea by Rome -- Jewish Revolt Against Rome (66-73 CE) -- Flavius Josephus (36-100 CE) -- Josephus and Scholarship -- Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem -- Importance of the Jewish War against Rome -- Jewish Burial Traditions -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Excursus I Excursus IThe Origins and Evolution of Satan -- Chapter IV Greco-Roman Concepts of the Noble Death and the Afterlife -- Hesiod and Greek Creation -- Formation of the Olympians -- Homer -- The Concept of a Noble Death -- Religion and Philosophy -- Schools of Philosophy -- Common Views of Philosophy/the Philosophical Universe -- Plato, Socrates, and Platonism (428-348 BCE) -- Stoicism -- The Greek Underworld: Hades -- Oracles of the Dead -- Hero Cults -- The Mysteries -- The Eleusinian Mysteries -- The Mysteries of Dionysus -- Greek Funerals -- Appeasing the Dead -- Funeral Games -- Roman Religions -- The Etruscans -- Hades/Pluto -- Roman Funerals -- Roman Funeral Processions -- Catacombs -- Appeasing the Dead -- The Mysteries in Rome -- Oracles of the Dead -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter V The Maccabee Revolt -- Religion and Culture -- Apocalyptic Judaism -- Characteristics of Apocalyptic Writing -- Ezekiel -- Enoch -- Daniel -- Reaction to Foreign Occupation -- Seleucid Dynasty -- Antiochus Epiphanes IV (Syria, 216 BCE-154 BCE) -- Searching the Scriptures -- Maccabee Revolt -- 1 Maccabees -- 2 Maccabees -- 4 Maccabees -- The Essentials of Martyrdom -- Jewish Sectarianism -- Sadducees -- Pharisees -- Essenes -- Zealots -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading.; Chapter VI The Letters of Paul -- Who Was Paul? -- Jewish-Christian Relations -- The New Perspective -- Gentile Inclusion -- Galations 1 -- Judaizers -- The Incident at Antioch -- Faith Versus Works of the Law -- Justified/Righteoused by Faith -- Romans 5 -- Why Then the Law of Moses? -- Grace -- Christology -- The Analogy of Slavery -- Paul's Eschatology -- Idolatry -- Persecution and the Ordeals of Paul -- Forty Lashes -- Rods -- Stoning -- Wild Beasts -- Romans 13: "Obey the Governing Authorities" -- What About the Jews? -- Deutero-Paul -- Paul, the Quintessential Martyr -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter VII The Story of Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels -- The Four Gospels -- Gospel of Mark (c. 69/70 CE) -- Gospel of Matthew (85 CE?) -- Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles (95 CE?) -- Gospel of John (100 CE?) -- Problems Faced by the Writers of the Gospels -- The Hero of Their Story Was Dead -- Where Were the Jews? -- Where Was the Kingdom of God? -- The Relationship Among the Gospels -- The Priority of Mark -- Matthew and Luke: The "Q" Source -- Additional Sources for Matthew and Luke -- Sources for Mark -- Analyzing the Gospels -- Historical Problems in the Passion Narrative -- The Temple Incident -- The Arrest -- The Jewish Trial -- The Real Pontius Pilate -- The Crucifixion -- Joseph of Arimathea -- The Oddity of Mark's Ending -- What Really Happened? -- Jesus: The Ideal Martyr -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter VIII The Acts of the Apostles: The Inclusion of Gentiles and Persecution -- The ; Commission -- A Missionary Religion -- Pentecost (Acts 2) -- Peter and John -- The Story of Stephen (Acts 6 and 7) -- The Story of Paul (Acts 8-9) -- Acts 8: The Conversion of the Samaritans -- Acts 9:1-9: On the Road to Damascus -- Luke's God-Fearers (Acts 10) -- Acts 12: The Beginning of Persecution.; Acts 15: The Apostolic Council -- Luke's Apologia to Rome -- The Typology of Rejection in Acts -- Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas in Iconium -- Acts 16: The Philippian Jailer -- Acts 19:10-41: The Riot in Ephesus -- Political Innocence -- The Arrest and Trials of Paul -- Silence on the Deaths of James, Peter, and Paul -- The Timing of Acts 15 -- The Legacy of the Acts of the Apostles -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter IX The Imperial Cult and Life and Death in the Roman Arenas -- Hero Cults -- From Monarchy to Republic -- Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE) -- Octavianus/Augustus (63-14 CE) -- The Imperial Cult of Roma -- The Julio-Claudians -- The Year of the Four Emperors (69/70 CE) -- Domitian (81-96 CE) -- Roman Views of Christians -- The Roman Penal System -- Funeral and Gladiatorial Games -- The Pattern of Roman Persecution -- Schisms in the Church -- John of Patmos and the Book of Revelation -- Other Apocalypses -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter X Institutional Development and Hierarchy of the Christian Churches -- Elders and Bishops -- Election of Bishops -- Deacons -- Women Leaders -- Candidates and Elections -- The Theology of Hierarchy and Election -- Absolution of Sin (Penance) -- The Ritual of Penance -- Excommunication -- The Church Fathers of the Second to Fourth Centuries -- Context of the Church Fathers -- Methods of the Church Fathers -- Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho the Jew -- Allegory -- The 10 Commandments -- Christian Innovations on Sex and Marriage -- Philosophical Views -- Same-Sex Attraction in the Ancient World -- Positive and Negative Roles of Women -- Back to the Garden -- Celibacy and Chastity -- Celibacy and Chastity as a Living Sacrifice -- From Councils to Canon Law -- Lust as a Necessary Evil -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading.; Chapter XI The Invention of Orthodoxy and Heresy -- The Nag Hammadi Library -- What Is Gnosticism? -- Allegory -- That "Zen Moment" -- The Invention of Doctrinal Orthodoxy/Heresy -- Why Were the Gnostics Condemned as Heretics? -- Gnostic Gospels -- Marcion of Sinope (85-160 CE) -- The Antitheses -- Marcion's Scriptures -- The Formation of the New Testament Canon -- Martyrs and Heresy -- The Demise of the Gnostics -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter XII Christian Martyrs -- The Apostolic Fathers -- Clement of Rome (35-99 CE) -- Pliny the Younger (61-113 CE) -- Ignatius of Antioch -- Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155 CE) -- The Nobility of Polycarp -- The Martyrdom -- Death as a Sacrifice -- The Miracle -- Polycarp's Body -- Bishop Tertullian (160-220 CE) -- Blandina and the Martyrs of Lyon, France (c. 177 CE) -- The Scillitan Martyrs (180 CE) -- Cyprian of Carthage (210-258 CE) -- Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha -- Acts of Thomas -- Acts of Peter -- Acts of Peter and Paul -- Paul in Rome -- Greek Romance Novels -- The Acts of Paul and Thecla -- The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity (202/203 CE) -- Virgin Martyrs -- Origen of Alexandria (184-253 CE) -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter XIII Martyrdom in Judaism: The Rabbinic Tradition -- Rabbinic Judaism -- Did Jews Persecute Christians? -- Reading Martyrdom into the Scriptures -- Emperor Hadrian (76-138 CE) and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 CE) -- The Martyrs of the Bar Kokhba Revolt -- New Criteria for Martyrdom -- The Covenant of Noah and Righteous Gentiles -- Summary -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Chapter XIV The Christianization of the Roman Empire -- Battle ; of the Milvian Bridge (312) -- Edict of Milan (313 CE) -- Why Did Constantine Convert? -- Constantinople -- Donatist Schism over the Persecution of Christians -- Christian Art and Architecture.; The Council of Nicaea and the Trinity (325 CE).
• Sommario/riassunto: Explores the evolution of martyrdom across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Martyrdom has long been a defining concept in religious traditions, shaping the identities of faith communities and influencing theological thought across centuries. Death in the Name of God: Martyrs and Martyrdom traces the historical development of this powerful idea within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, examining how cultural, social, and political contexts have influenced evolving interpretations of martyrdom. Through a multidisciplinary lens, noted scholar Rebecca I. Denova provides a comprehensive analysis of how each tradition adapted and redefined martyrdom in response to changing historical circumstances. By offering historical depth and critical examination, the author helps readers understand how martyrdom has been utilized to define faith, legitimacy, and religious authority in different eras. An accessible yet rigorous study of the roots and transformations of martyrdom, Death in the Name of God features detailed historical context, primary source discussions, and thematic analyses. The book's three-tiered methodological framework--descriptive, comparative, and critical--guides readers through the role of martyrdom in shaping religious belief systems, including its origins in ancient traditions, its role in theological and political developments, and its continued significance in modern religious and social discourse. An essential resource for understanding the enduring impact of martyrdom in Western religious thought, Death in the Name of God: Provides a multidisciplinary analysis of martyrdom through history, incorporating anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and religious studies Explores how martyrdom developed in response to shifting historical and cultural contexts Features sections that offer deeper insight into key topics such as the evolution of Satan and distinctions in martyrdom between Sunni and Shi'a Islam Examines how martyrdom transitioned from an act of deliberate sacrifice to a modern concept of victimhood and social struggle Includes timelines, figures, and archaeological findings to provide visual and historical context Offering a non-theological, academic perspective that fosters objective discussion on a historically and politically charged topic, Death in the Name of God: Martyrs and Martyrdom is perfect for courses in Religious Studies, History, Theology, and Middle Eastern Studies. It is particularly well-suited for degree programs in the liberal arts and social sciences, offering foundational knowledge for courses on the history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as broader discussions on religious violence and martyrdom in contemporary society.