This ground-breaking study offers a new paradigm for understanding the beliefs and religions of the Goths; Burgundians; Sueves; Franks and Lombards as they converted from paganism to Christianity between c.350 and c.700 CE. Combining history and theology with approaches drawn from the cognitive science of religion; Belief and Religion in Barbarian Europe uses both written and archaeological evidence to challenge many older ideas. Beginning with a re-examination of our knowledge about the deities and rituals of their original religions; it goes on to question the assumption that the Germanic peoples were merely passive recipients of Christian doctrine; arguing that so-called ‘Arianism' was first developed as an ‘entry-level' Christianity for the Goths. Focusing on individual ethnic groupings in turn; it presents a fresh view of the relationship between religion and politics as their rulers attempted to opt for Catholicism. In place of familiar debates about post-conversion ‘pagan survivals'; contemporary texts and legislation are analysed to create an innovative cognitive perspective on the ways in which the Church endeavoured to bring the Christian God into people's thoughts and actions. The work also includes a survey of a wide range of written and archaeological evidence; contrasting traditional conceptions of death; afterlife and funerary ritual with Christian doctrine and practice in these areas and exploring some of the techniques developed by the Church for assuaging popular anxieties about Christian burial and the Christian afterlife.
#1804 in Books Baker and Taylor 2011-08-09 2011-08-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.60 x 6.12l; .0 #File Name: 1439170916608 pagesScribner Book Company
Review
93 of 98 people found the following review helpful. read it after your treatmentBy Aaron McLoughlinLast April I was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. After a stem cell transplant I am coming up for a year.When you are told you have cancer you are bewildered. You are also very angry. I asked myself was there something I had done in my past that was going to deprive me seeing my two sons grow up into happy young men and dads. The first two weeks go by in a weird nightmare. Day 17 your hair falls out. Your peeing orange from the chemo drugs; which have put me off lucozade for life. You double check all your insurances are up to date and update a well to make sure my wife does not have any hassles with the tax authorities. At the age of 44 you are very angry. You realise you are likely going to die. You are angry because you have no idea what is doing it. What you planned for when you were older is all meaningless. But; thanks to certain stubbornness and amazing treatment and care; and a generous sift of life from a German donor of life giving stem cells; I am alive.This book helps explain many of the questions I had. It does it in a way that makes sense if you don't have a degree in science. What was until recently a death sentence is no longer the case. The battle against cancer was waged by intrepid individuals; and this book explains the war so far. It outlines the causes of cancer; whether it is a virus; bacteria; induced by smoking or chemicals; or just our own body playing up and turning on itself. It explains how our own understanding is still basic but advancing year by year; and treatments; if not cures; are being found for many; although not all cancers.I learned that was once a death sentence is not the case today. I am looking forward to see my sons become men. This book gave me clarity; it gave me hope.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating!By Eduardo Lopez PinedaFantastic reading... well written; clear; educative and entertaining. Dr. Mukherjee has a gift for making this complex and fascinating world- and quest- easily understandable and highly riveting. Extremely recommendable. The clear history of the disease and the elucidation on the major advances shine a bright light on the courageous men and women who suffer this disease; and the bright minds that have increased our understanding and led to the realization that it may in a sense well be possible that this is just part of our nature0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Incredibly well writtenBy ArtFanI picked the book up because I have an interest in cancer for several reasons. First; 1/3 of all humans die from cancer. Second; from a scientific perspective it is a fascinating; challenging and complex topic.This is an extremely well written; well planned out and organized book. I'm almost as much in awe of the author's command of the English language as I am of the skill he had in organizing the material. If anyone else were to do a history of cancer; they truly could not match the quality of this book. I say this because the author strikes a perfect balance between focusing on details when needed and focusing on the big picture when needed. And he presents the material in such a way that the key points really stick with you. You walk away with an excellent understanding of the disease - certainly much more than the layman and probably more than some medical professionals - and a comprehensive understanding of how human beings have tried; and continue to try to understand this disease.I think a lot of people should read this book. First of all to expel the myths and misunderstandings that people have about cancer. Second; to have a much better understanding of doctors and medical profession; including their limitations. And third because we all have been; will be; or know someone who is affected.
