The Suffering Self
Pain and Narrative Representation in the Early Christian Era
1st Edition
Published on 11. September 2002
264 pages
978-1-134-79895-7 (ISBN)
Description
The Suffering Self is a ground-breaking, interdisciplinary study of the spread of Christianity across the Roman empire. Judith Perkins shows how Christian narrative representation in the early empire worked to create a new kind of human self-understanding - the perception of the self as sufferer. Drawing on feminist and social theory, she addresses the question of why forms of suffering like martyrdom and self-mutilation were so important to early Christians.
This study crosses the boundaries between ancient history and the study of early Christianity, seeing Christian representation in the context of the Greco-Roman world. She draws parallels with suffering heroines in Greek novels and in martyr acts and examines representations in medical and philosophical texts.
Judith Perkins' controversial study is important reading for all those interested in ancient society, or in the history `f Christianity.
This study crosses the boundaries between ancient history and the study of early Christianity, seeing Christian representation in the context of the Greco-Roman world. She draws parallels with suffering heroines in Greek novels and in martyr acts and examines representations in medical and philosophical texts.
Judith Perkins' controversial study is important reading for all those interested in ancient society, or in the history `f Christianity.
Reviews / Votes
`Judith Perkins, is a classical scholar with a wide and imaginatve sympathy for the emotional and spiritual dilemmas of the ancient world in which Christianity was born.' - Church TimesMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
File size
1,43 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-134-79895-7 (9781134798957)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/1995
1st Edition
Routledge
€206.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
Book
07/1995
1st Edition
Routledge
€62.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Judith Perkins is Professor of Classics and Humanities at Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, Connecticut.
Content
Introduction; Chapter 1 Death as a Happy Ending; Chapter 2 Marriages as Happy Endings; Chapter 3 Pain Without Effect; Chapter 4 Suffering and Power; Chapter 5 Healing and Power; Chapter 6 The Sick Self; Chapter 7 Ideology, Not Pathology; Chapter 8 Saints' Lives;
