Has a repressive morality been the primary contribution of Christianity to the history of sexuality? The ascetic concerns that pervade ancient Christian texts would seem to support such a common assumption. Focusing on hagiographical literature; Virginia Burrus pursues a fresh path of interpretation; arguing that the early accounts of the lives of saints are not antierotic but rather convey a sublimely transgressive "countereroticism" that resists the marital; procreative ethic of sexuality found in other strands of Christian tradition.Without reducing the erotics of ancient hagiography to a single formula; The Sex Lives of Saints frames the broad historical; theological; and theoretical issues at stake in such a revisionist interpretation of ascetic eroticism; with particular reference to the work of Michel Foucault and Georges Bataille; David Halperin and Geoffrey Harpham; Leo Bersani and Jean Baudrillard. Burrus subsequently proceeds through close; performative readings of the earliest Lives of Saints; mostly dating to the late fourth and early fifth centuries—Jerome's Lives of Paul; Malchus; Hilarion; and Paula; Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Macrina; Augustine's portrait of Monica; Sulpicius Severus's Life of Martin; and the slightly later Lives of so-called harlot saints. Queer; s/m; and postcolonial theories are among the contemporary discourses that prove intriguingly resonant with an ancient art of "saintly" loving that remains; in Burrus's reading; promisingly mobile; diverse; and open-ended.
#338916 in Books Hallas James H 2016-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.31 x 1.13 x 6.26l; .0 #File Name: 081171795X424 pagesUncommon Valor on Iwo Jima The Story of the Medal of Honor Recipients in the Marine Corps Bloodiest Battle of World War II
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Heroes on Hallowed GroundBy Lawrence A. StridThis is one of the very best military books on WWII I have ever encountered. Not intended as a complete discussion of the entire Iwo Jima campaign; instead the author showcases the marines and corpsmen who earned the Medal of Honor in the battle; including a bio of their life before entering the service (and afterwards; if they survived). Also included is the story of John Basilone; who had already earned the CMOH on Guadalcanal and was KIA on Iwo Jima. He got the Navy Cross posthumously but arguably should have earned a second CMOH for what he did. Each recipient is presented in chronological order as to when they earned the medal in the course of the battle; so that it reads as a continuous story as the Marines first landed on the beaches and took the southern end of Iwo; including Mt. Suribachi; and then moved north to take the three airfields. An awe-inspiring chronology of some of the most heroic members of the last great generation. Should be compulsory reading for high school students.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Moving Story About The Brave Men Of Iwo JimaBy Melody FlynnHaving a second cousin; Lieutenant Robert (Bobby) Reese Braswell; 24 Marines; 24th Marine Division; who was KIA on Iwo Jima on March 3rd; 1945; I wanted to know more about that battle. Mr. Hallas has written a story that explains what the brave men that went ashore on Iwo Jima had to face. The stories of each man who earned Medals of Honor show you how and why they earned this distinction. But it also shows how brave each and every man was that fought on that island. Although I don't know much about my second cousin; I came away knowing what things must have been like for him over there and how grateful I am to all the men who have fought for our country. Thank you.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Amazing Heroism and SacrificeBy J. GroenThis book is full of amazing heroism and sacrifice. All the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima were heroes; but these me were signaled out for accomplishing amazing acts of heroism. For example; I've often heard of the Marines who jumped on live grenades giving their lives to save the lives of their fellow Marines. In this book; there are many stories of this. And; there a number of stories of Marines who took out numerous Japanese bunkers using flamethrowers or bazookas; or hand grenades; etc. or all of the above. Iwo Jima was a terrible battle; and having a book like this one not only highlights the heroism of these men; but also highlights the horror of this battle and all war. As mentioned in the book; however; reading about it only provides a little insight into reality. Hopefully; reality like this will never face young men in their teens and twenties again.
