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Following the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the cult of the saints was the dominant form of religion in Christian Europe. In this elegantly written work, Peter Brown explores the role of tombs, shrines, relics, and pilgrimages connected with the sacred bodies of the saints. He shows how men and women living in harsh and sometimes barbaric times relied upon the merciful intercession of the holy dead to obtain justice, forgiveness, and to find new ways to accept their fellows. Challenging the common treatment of the cult as an outbreak of superstition among the lower classes, Brown demonstrates how this form of religiousity engaged the finest minds of the Church and elicited from members of the educated upper classes some of their most splendid achievements in poetry, literature, and the patronage of the arts.
"Brown has an international reputation for his fine style, a style he here turns on to illuminate the cult of the saints. Christianity was born without such a cult; it took rise and that rise needs chronicling. Brown has a gift for the memorable phrase and sees what the passersby have often overlooked. An eye-opener on an important but neglected phase of Western development."--"The Christian Century "
"Brilliantly original and highly sophisticated . . . . ["The Cult of the Saints"] is based on great learning in several disciplines, and the story is told with an exceptional appreciation for the broad social context. Students of many aspects of medieval culture, especially popular religion, will want to consult this work."--Bennett D. Hill, "Library Journal "
"Brown has an international reputation for his fine style, a style he here turns on to illuminate the cult of the saints. Christianity was born without such a cult; it took rise and that rise needs chronicling. Brown has a gift for the memorable phrase and sees what the passersby have often overlooked. An eye-opener on an important but neglected phase of Western development."--"The Christian Century "
"Brilliantly original and highly sophisticated . . . . ["The Cult of the Saints"] is based on great learning in several disciplines, and the story is told with an exceptional appreciation for the broad social context. Students of many aspects of medieval culture, especially popular religion, will want to consult this work."--Bennett D. Hill, "Library Journal "
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Peter Brown - a truly lovely man, gent., and Oxford scholar - has produced in this excellent short volume an intriguing argument for the reasons for the development of the rise of the cult of the saints. He attributes this more to the ambitions of the bishops than to spiritual needs of groping; and suggests that the sudden rise to wealth of the establishing church was an important factor. The churches suddenly had money, and nothing to spend it on - hence the rise in buildings. Do read this book - it is bautifully written and fascinating.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
[The review below doesn't seem to be about this book at all (is it a mistake? Is it intended to be about a different book? e.g. Gregory / movie rights)]
Anyway, this is an excellent, ground-breaking, and classic study of the idea of sanctity in early Christianity, which provides an accessible and interesting introduction to the development of the cult of the saints, that is, the veneration of martyrs and holy men and women. This book would be of extreme value to students of theology / ancient history, and would also be an intriguing introduction for those who are interested in learning a little more about the development of early Christianity and the origins of the cult of the saints.
Anyway, this is an excellent, ground-breaking, and classic study of the idea of sanctity in early Christianity, which provides an accessible and interesting introduction to the development of the cult of the saints, that is, the veneration of martyrs and holy men and women. This book would be of extreme value to students of theology / ancient history, and would also be an intriguing introduction for those who are interested in learning a little more about the development of early Christianity and the origins of the cult of the saints.
2 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is very deceptive. It looks brief, concise and comprehensible. However, it is a wolf in sheep's clothing! Gregory writes in his own uniquely convoluted style and waffles like a champion. However, the content was exactly the stuff i needed for my degree programme so no complaints there. My issue is with the author who has long since passed, and I'm not about to start bashing the dead. Therefore, I have awarded three stars purely for the books use as an historical, documentary source. The movie rights are still going for this beauty of a thriller!
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