Ultimate devotion : the historical impact and archaeological expression of intense religious movements / by Yoav Arbel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Arbel, Yoav.

Contributor:

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Series:

Approaches to anthropological archaeology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religious fanaticism--Political aspects--History.

Religious fanaticism.

Archaeology and religion.

Devotion--History.

Devotion.

History.

Physical Description:

206 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; Oakville, CT : Equinox Pub., 2009.

Summary:

In the hands of dissenting religious zealots, faith and ritual can be a powerful means of mobilizing people towards radical change. From the viewpoint of many historical rebel-zealots, shattering existing political and social institutions was a pre-condition for the forthcoming regency of God. Repercussions were traumatic, and often catastrophic.

This book examines several intense religious movements from various historical backgrounds. Even though there were no known communications between the cultures and groups from which these movements arose, they show striking similarities in the ways they emerged, in the characters of their leaders and followers, as well as in their often tragic conclusions. The earliest of these cases, the First Jewish Revolt against Rome (66-73 CE), is discussed in particular detail. The importance of this case is in its historical and ideological affiliations to Jewish, Christian and, in a less direct way, Muslim messianism. In addition, it offers a rich variety of archaeological materials that reflects the intense religious ideology which guided the rebels. Some classes of finds can be used in the investigation of religious intensification in other times, cultures and circumstances.

Overall, this book joins archaeological and textual evidence to anthropological theory to present a previously untested model of mass action inspired by intense religion. It sheds new light on dramatic developments that altered the history of the peoples involved, with meaningful insights on some pressing issues in our own modern realities.

Contents:

A theory of religious intensification

God and country

One God, one way

A quest for immediate salvation

Messianic hopes shattered

History, archaeology, and religious ideology

Uprising in Judea

Narrative of crisis

The sacred contract

Unearthing religious intensity

Between Jericho and Rome.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [167]-200) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9781845532260

1845532260

OCLC:

232536681