Hagiography and religious truth : case studies in the Abrahamic and Dharmic traditions / edited by Rico G. Monge, Kerry P.C. San Chirico, and Rachel J. Smith.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Monge, Rico G., editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Saints.

Hagiography.

Abrahamic religions.

Hinduism.

Physical Description:

xv, 265 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York, NY : Bloomsbury, 2016.

Summary:

The hagiographic materials from a particular time and place can tell us much about the beliefs and practices of the people, yet the limited degree to which hagiography has been used as an instrument for understanding diverse religious traditions is surprising. Hagiography and Religious Truth provides a clearer understanding of the ways hagiography functions to disclose truth for practitioners and suggests various ways that these underexploited sources enrich our comprehension of broader issues in religious studies. This volume provides a much-needed cross-cultural and interreligious comparison of saints' lives, iconography, and devotional practices. The contributors show that hagiographic sources can in fact be "truths of manifestation," which function as vehicles for prefiguring, configuring, and refiguring religious, social, and cultural life. The editors argue that some meanings simply cannot be communicated effectively through historical-critical methodologies. By exploring how hagiography functions throughout several of the world's religious traditions, this volume illustrates how various modes of hagiography articulate religious ideas and uniquely represent conceptions of sanctity.

Contents:

Part I Theoretical Considerations

Saints, Truth, and the "Use and Abuse" of Hagiography / Rico G. Monge Monge, Rico G. 7

Devotion, Critique, and the Reading of Christian Saints' Lives / Rachel J. Smith Smith, Rachel J. 23

Sacred Narrative and the Truth: What Does It Mean If It Did Not Happen? / Patricia Fann Bouteneff Bouteneff, Patricia Fann, Peter C. Bouteneff Bouteneff, Peter C. 37

Part II Case Studies in Dharmic Traditions

Imagining Hagiographies in Chhattisgarh / Ramdas Lamb Lamb, Ramdas 53

Turning Tomb to Temple: Hagiography, Sacred Space, and Ritual Activity in a Thirteenth-Century Hindu Shrine / Mark J. McLaughlin McLaughlin, Mark J. 70

From Legend to Flesh and Bone: The Reenactment of a Tantric Narrative / Joel S. Gruber Gruber, Joel S. 89

Part III Case Studies in Abrahamic Traditions

The Transmission of Virtue in the Hagiography of Haci Bektas Veli: The Narrative of Güvenç Abdal / Vernon J. Schubel Schubel, Vernon J. 109

A Global Intercessor: Triumphalism and Reconciliation in the Services of St. John Maximovich / Nicholas Denysenko Denysenko, Nicholas 124

"King-Slaves" in South Africa: Shrines, Ritual, & Resistance / Bahar Davary Davary, Bahar 137

Many Truths, One Story: John of Ephesus's Lives of the Eastern Saints / Todd E. French French, Todd E. 151

Part IV Case Studies in Comparison

Saints from the Margin: Rescuing Tradition Through Hagiography in the Lives of Sylouan the Athonite and Milarepa / Thomas Cattoi Cattoi, Thomas 169

Holy Negotiations in a Hindu Heartland: Abundant People and Spaces among the Khrist Bhaktas of Banaras / Kerry P. C. San Chirico Chirico, Kerry P. C. San 183.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Hagiography and religious truth.

ISBN:

9781474235778

1474235778

OCLC:

933272186

Publisher Number:

40026434113