In the fourth century; the deserts of Egypt became the nerve center of a radical new movement; what we now call monasticism. Groups of Christians-from illiterate peasants to learned intellectuals-moved out to the wastelands beyond the Nile Valley and; in the famous words of Saint Athanasius; made the desert a city. In so doing; they captured the imagination of the ancient world. They forged techniques of prayer and asceticism; of discipleship and spiritual direction; that have remained central to Christianity ever since. Seeking to map the soul's long journey to God and plot out the subtle vagaries of the human heart; they created and inspired texts that became classics of Western spirituality. These Desert Christians were also brilliant storytellers; some of Christianity's finest. This book introduces the literature of early monasticism. It examines all the best-known works; including Athanasius' Life of Antony; the Lives of Pachomius; and the so-called Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Later chapters focus on two pioneers of monastic theology: Evagrius Ponticus; the first great theoretician of Christian mysticism; and John Cassian; who brought Egyptian monasticism to the Latin West. Along the way; readers are introduced to path-breaking discoveries-to new texts and recent archeological finds-that have revolutionized contemporary scholarship on monastic origins. Included are fascinating snippets from papyri and from little-known Coptic; Syriac; and Ethiopic texts. Interspersed in each chapter are illustrations; maps; and diagrams that help readers sort through the key texts and the richly-textured world of early monasticism. Geared to a wide audience and written in clear; jargon-free prose; Desert Christians offers the most comprehensive and accessible introduction to early monasticism.
#826982 in Books Oxford University Press; USA 2002-04-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.90 x .60 x 9.90l; 1.14 #File Name: 0195154916176 pagesEncounters in the New World A History in Documents
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Extremely useful original sourcesBy dramagrammaThis is a fabulous textbook in and of itself. I use it with middle schoolers and it is not too advanced for them; but it would work equally well at all levels; I think. The author has a point of view; and her sympathies lie with the indigenous peoples; but the documentary record is pretty compelling in and of itself. With a good introduction on what original sources consist of. Covers Spanish; French and English encounters.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. The very best history writer of todayBy Jeanne GardnerAfter reading this + a few other of Jill Lepore's book; I simply had to order several other books that she has published. She's an eye-opening scholar and a terrifically exciting author. I can't praise her enough. She makes history human and exciting.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Jon Heineok
