What was it like to grow up in a Jewish family in medieval Ashkenaz? What was it like to raise children? Baumgarten reveals both what was distinctive What was it like to grow up in a Jewish family in medieval Ashkenaz? What was it like to raise children? Baumgarten reveals both what was distinctive about Jewish family life in the high and later Middle Ages, and how Jewish and Christian neighbors influenced each other and even helped each other raise their kids. A great example of how to use comparative history to highlight one story while illuminating a broader picture--and a fascinating look at a never-before-studied aspect of medieval Judaism....more
In 1704, against a backdrop of the spiraling Atlantic slave trade and civil war tearing up her country, a young Kongolese woman asserted Jesus and MarIn 1704, against a backdrop of the spiraling Atlantic slave trade and civil war tearing up her country, a young Kongolese woman asserted Jesus and Mary were African, pronounced herself possessed by Saint Anthony, preached searing messages of religious reform, and launched a peace movement of "little Anthonies" to save her land. A great introduction, in story form, to the Kingdom of Kongo as well as the struggle between the Christianities of the Kongolese and the European missionaries....more
A concise overview from one of the top historians of the subject, this book hits the highlights of the story of Christianity in America to explore howA concise overview from one of the top historians of the subject, this book hits the highlights of the story of Christianity in America to explore how and even why the American contexts remake Christianity again and again....more
Today, churches in Europe go vacant and African congregations send missionaries to evangelize the United States. Gonzalez grapples with how this shiftToday, churches in Europe go vacant and African congregations send missionaries to evangelize the United States. Gonzalez grapples with how this shift of Christianity's focal points to the global south affects how we tell the story of Christianity--not just today, but from its foundations....more
Before they were Catholic hippies whose colleges had great academics and great basketball, the Jesuits were the front line soldiers of the Catholic ReBefore they were Catholic hippies whose colleges had great academics and great basketball, the Jesuits were the front line soldiers of the Catholic Reformation or Counter-Reformation. O'Malley demonstrates how the first generation of Jesuits rejuvenated spirituality within the Catholic Church at the same time Luther and Calvin were working on the same mission outside it. Unlike those early Protestant counterparts, the first Jesuits also led the way in carrying their new vision west to the Americas and east to India and beyond. And then they helped invent ballet....more
Nope, you don't get off that easy--Shagan goes back to the sources to look at what kind of role the English people played in the Reformation. While heNope, you don't get off that easy--Shagan goes back to the sources to look at what kind of role the English people played in the Reformation. While he agrees with previous assessments that the Ref. in England was primarily political rather than theological, and by no means an overnight success, he shows how the common people were present at every step of the way: sometimes as deliberate audience, sometimes as very active participants....more
hink predestination is a horrible and cruel doctrine? Don't understand why the Reformation ripped Europe to shreds for a century and a half? Let two ohink predestination is a horrible and cruel doctrine? Don't understand why the Reformation ripped Europe to shreds for a century and a half? Let two of the most compelling writers in Christian history (yes, even in translations) show you. In which theologies are extremely clearly laid out, reputations are asserted and defended, one party is endlessly graciously, and one party brings all the snark. This will make you fall in love with the Reformation, with rhetoric, and with primary sources....more
When a 1933 book still merits an English translation in 1994, you know it's important. Grundmann's exploration of how 13th century medieval men and woWhen a 1933 book still merits an English translation in 1994, you know it's important. Grundmann's exploration of how 13th century medieval men and women alike took religion into their own hands, launching popular religious movement that survive through today, is a foundational text in medieval studies. It's also a model of how to use the different sources available to tell a story, from literature to law to charters....more
While male scholastics were debating in Latin, holy women (and their male advisors) were using vernacular poetry and their own bodies to create an altWhile male scholastics were debating in Latin, holy women (and their male advisors) were using vernacular poetry and their own bodies to create an alternative model of saintliness. This book, which broke open the world of medieval religious women to modern audiences, features a great introduction to the roles of medieval women in the Church before focusing more specifically on what made a few standout women particularly holy--and why....more
What, indeed, have Baghdad and Damascus to do with Rome? Griffith explores the impact of the rise of Islam on Christianity--Middle Eastern, Greek, andWhat, indeed, have Baghdad and Damascus to do with Rome? Griffith explores the impact of the rise of Islam on Christianity--Middle Eastern, Greek, and Latin alike. What were Christians' very first impressions of this new religion? How did Middle Eastern theologians respond to the challenge of conversion to Islam? This book takes us back to the days when over fifty percent of the world's Christian lived with the shadow of the crescent over their cross, letting us see how they coped, suffered, and thrived....more
Most studies of the early Church focus on theology: theologians, councils, texts, hashing out the basics of Christian doctrine in a combative politicaMost studies of the early Church focus on theology: theologians, councils, texts, hashing out the basics of Christian doctrine in a combative political and military environment. What about, you know, actual Christians? This anthology brings together investigations of "lived Christianity" from top scholars in the field, looking at everything from children's play to how heresy and heretics were really defined in day-to-day interactions, not from assassinating Arius in a bathroom....more
The go-to source for all questions on daily life in ancient Israel (in the Bronze and Iron ages). An excellent overview of all the various aspects of The go-to source for all questions on daily life in ancient Israel (in the Bronze and Iron ages). An excellent overview of all the various aspects of daily life, from food and cooking ways to economics and trade, to clothing, to religion, this book is the place to start. Perfect for answering all those questions about "what did people use for (blank) in the Ancient Near East?"....more
Fantastic book. The breadth and accessibility of this overview of the current state of research is incredible. The suggested reading at the end of eacFantastic book. The breadth and accessibility of this overview of the current state of research is incredible. The suggested reading at the end of each chapter provides a wonderful selection of equally readable texts. ...more
Dever has a decidedly more conservative flair, but trumps other more conservative scholars by being an archaeologist, and--for the most part--giving tDever has a decidedly more conservative flair, but trumps other more conservative scholars by being an archaeologist, and--for the most part--giving the archaeology priority....more
Among the most popular introductory level books on any biblical subject ever written. Just be a little bit careful, Finkelstein works in his "low chroAmong the most popular introductory level books on any biblical subject ever written. Just be a little bit careful, Finkelstein works in his "low chronology" without preface, which is good for his inteded audience, but bad for a broader view, as it remains contentious. It's worth picking up Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It? to help spot where he does so....more
How the Catholic Church and the Third Republic fought it out (surprisingly literally) in the decades after the Franco-Prussian War, culminating in theHow the Catholic Church and the Third Republic fought it out (surprisingly literally) in the decades after the Franco-Prussian War, culminating in the Dreyfus Affair. The Third Republic gov't tried to make the Catholic Church irrelevant. The Catholic Church said no. A standoff!...more
A bit more specific but the best account of perhaps the most interesting period of religious change in English History by one of its greatest historiaA bit more specific but the best account of perhaps the most interesting period of religious change in English History by one of its greatest historians, though it is quite a dense book....more
A magisterial take on the Reformation across the world, from late medieval Wittenberg to Puritan New England. In contrast to historians who seem to siA magisterial take on the Reformation across the world, from late medieval Wittenberg to Puritan New England. In contrast to historians who seem to sideline religion to highlight social and political motivations, MacCulluch lovingly builds a case that the Reformation was a time when thought and belief changed the world forever....more
Seeks to understand the colonial encounter as being a fundamental question of violence at the epistemic level. Deftly welding the twin domains of histSeeks to understand the colonial encounter as being a fundamental question of violence at the epistemic level. Deftly welding the twin domains of history and anthropology, the two volumes chart a terrifying account of the dislocation effected by the missionaries within Tswana culture....more
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