Constructing religious martyrdom : a cross-cultural study / John Soboslai, Montclair State University.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Soboslai, John, 1978- author.

Standardized Title:

Performing one's own death

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Martyrdom.

Martyrdom--History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 445 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom : Cambridge University Press, 2024.

Summary:

"This diverse study offers insights into practices of martyrdom within specific socio-political contexts. Analyzing martyrdom through political theology, John Soboslai examines self-sacrifice in four religious traditions during social and political crises, from second century Christianity in Asia Minor to 21st century Tibetan Buddhism"-- Provided by publisher

Contents:

Acknowledgments

List of Abbreviations of Ancient Sources

1 Introduction: Concerning Martyrdom

The Practice and Discourse of Martyrdom

Martyrdom as (Self-)Sacrifice

On Suicide

The Politics of Martyrdom

Interpreting Martyrdom

Comparative Approach and Introduction to Cases

2 Executed Martyrs in Second-Century Christianity

Introduction

Cultural Precedence for Christian Martyrdom

The World of Second Century Christianities

Legal Recourse against Christians

Constructing Christian Martyrs

The Testimony of Christian Witnesses

Conclusion

3 The Human Bombs of Twentieth-Century Shi'i Islam

The Shi'a Awakening

Jihad against Oppression

Developing Martyrology in Medieval Shi'i Islam

Constructing Martyrdom Operations

Witnessing (in) Islam

4 Sikh Martyr Imaginaries during World War I

The Situation inside and outside Imperial India

The Great War

Martyrs for Righteousness

True to One's Salt

5 Twenty-First-Century Tibetan Self-Immolators

The Conflict with the People's Republic of China

Fears of Losing Tibet

Self-Immolation as Sacrificial Offering

Suffering, Coercion, and the Truth of Tibet

6 Performances of Suffering: The Drama of Martyrdom

Comparing Practices and Discourses of Martyrdom

Settings

Scripts and Roles

Audience

Martyrologists

The Martyr's Performance

7 Witnesses to a Sovereign Imaginary

Pain, Truth, and Witnessing

Sovereign Imaginaries

The Hermeneutics of Sovereignty

Sovereign Performances

Conclusion: The Witness of Martyrdom

Epilogue

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 28 May 2024).

ISBN:

9781009483025

1009483021

9781009482998

1009482998

9781009482981

100948298X