Description
Explore the captivating world of medieval European spirituality with this brand new title, ISBN 9781942130376, published by Zone Books in 2020. This trade binding book presents a mesmerizing account of how medieval Christians perceived the paradoxical nature of sacred objects, creating a rich tapestry of belief and practice. From the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries, this work delves into an extensive range of holy items utilized in worship, extending beyond prayer books and statues to include natural materials believed to hold divine power. Items such as stones, earth, dolls representing Jesus and Mary, and even consecrated food items exemplify the complexities of faith that shaped religious life during this era. Author Caroline Bynum offers insightful analyses in a series of interrelated essays, examining the significance of these objects, including the beds for the baby Jesus and the footprints of Christ brought home by pilgrims. Uncover the intricate debates surrounding these artifacts, their relationship to anti-Semitic sentiments, and how they link to broader movements known as the Reformations. This scholarly work not only enriches our understanding of material culture in a spiritual context but also invites readers to grasp the profound message of dissimilar similitude: that sacred objects mirror heavenly glory while acknowledging the limitations of earthly representations. Immerse yourself in these eloquent essays that push the boundaries of historical materiality and illuminate the enigmatic nature of holy things in medieval Christianity. Free shipping is included, and please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery, noting that once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781942130376
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2020
Publisher: Zone Books
Description:
From an acclaimed historian, a mesmerising account of how medieval European Christians envisioned the paradoxical nature of holy objects.
Between the twelfth and the sixteenth centuries, European Christians used in worship a plethora of objects, not only prayer books, statues, and paintings but also pieces of natural materials, such as stones and earth, considered to carry holiness, dolls representing Jesus and Mary, and even bits of consecrated bread and wine thought to be miraculously preserved flesh and blood. Theologians and ordinary worshippers alike explained, utilised, justified, and warned against some of these objects, which could carry with them both anti-Semitic charges and the glorious promise of heaven. Their proliferation and the reaction against them form a crucial background to the European-wide movements we know today as "reformations" (both Protestant and Catholic).
In a set of independent but inter-related essays, Caroline Bynum considers some examples of such holy things, among them beds for the baby Jesus, the headdresses of medieval nuns, and the footprints of Christ carried home from the Holy Land by pilgrims in patterns cut to their shape or their measurement in lengths of string. Building on and going beyond her well-received work on the history of materiality, Bynum makes two arguments, one substantive, the other methodological. First, she demonstrates that the objects themselves communicate a paradox of dissimilar similitude — that is, that in their very details they both image the glory of heaven and make clear that that heaven is beyond any representation in earthly things. Second, she
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781942130376
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2020
Publisher: Zone Books
Description:
From an acclaimed historian, a mesmerising account of how medieval European Christians envisioned the paradoxical nature of holy objects.
Between the twelfth and the sixteenth centuries, European Christians used in worship a plethora of objects, not only prayer books, statues, and paintings but also pieces of natural materials, such as stones and earth, considered to carry holiness, dolls representing Jesus and Mary, and even bits of consecrated bread and wine thought to be miraculously preserved flesh and blood. Theologians and ordinary worshippers alike explained, utilised, justified, and warned against some of these objects, which could carry with them both anti-Semitic charges and the glorious promise of heaven. Their proliferation and the reaction against them form a crucial background to the European-wide movements we know today as "reformations" (both Protestant and Catholic).
In a set of independent but inter-related essays, Caroline Bynum considers some examples of such holy things, among them beds for the baby Jesus, the headdresses of medieval nuns, and the footprints of Christ carried home from the Holy Land by pilgrims in patterns cut to their shape or their measurement in lengths of string. Building on and going beyond her well-received work on the history of materiality, Bynum makes two arguments, one substantive, the other methodological. First, she demonstrates that the objects themselves communicate a paradox of dissimilar similitude — that is, that in their very details they both image the glory of heaven and make clear that that heaven is beyond any representation in earthly things. Second, she