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Belief and Bloodshed

Religion and Violence across Time and Tradition

Edited by James K. Wellman Jr. - Contributions by Scott Noegel; Sarah Culpepper Stroup; Michael Berger; Charles McDaniel; Paul Stephenson; Jon Pahl; David Atwill; Marianne Kamp; Charles Keyes; Marion Goldman; Joel Black and Bruce Lincoln

Intended for students as well as scholars of religion and violence, Belief and Bloodshed discusses how the relationship between religion and violence is not unique to a post-9/11 world—it has existed throughout all of recorded history and culture. The book makes clear the complex interactions between religion, violence, and politics to show that religion as always innocent or always evil is misguided, and that rationalizations by religion for political power and violence are not new. Chronologically organized, the book shows religiously motivated violence across a variety of historical periods and cultures, moving from the ancient to medieval to the modern world, ending with an essay comparing the speeches of an ancient king to the speeches of the current U.S. President.
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Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 280 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9⅜
978-0-7425-5823-6 • Hardback • February 2007 • $140.00 • (£108.00)
978-0-7425-5824-3 • Paperback • February 2007 • $52.00 • (£40.00)
978-0-7425-7134-1 • eBook • February 2007 • $49.00 • (£38.00)
Subjects: Religion / RELIGION / Politics & State
James Wellman is associate professor in the Comparative Religion Program at the University of Washington.
1 Introduction: Religion and Violence: Past, Present and Future
Part 2 The Ancient and Medieval World
Chapter 2 Dismemberment, Creation, and Ritual: Images of Divine Violence in the Ancient Near East
Chapter 3 Making Memory: Ritual, Rhetoric, and Violence in the Roman Triumph
Chapter 4 Taming the Beast: Rabbinic Pacification of Second Century Jewish Nationalism
Chapter 5 Violent Yearnings for the Kingdom of God: Münster's Militant Anabaptism
Chapter 6 Imperial Christianity and Sacred War in Byzantium
Chapter 7 Founding an Empire of Sacrifice: Innocent Domination and the Quaker Martyrs of Boston, 1659-1661
Part 7 The Modern World
Chapter 8 Holy Culture Wars: Patterns of Ethno-Religious Violence in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century China
Chapter 9 Femicide as Terrorism: The Case of Uzbekistan's Unveiling
Chapter 10 Monks, Guns and Peace: Theravada Buddhism and Political Violence
Chapter 11 Avoiding Mass Violence at Rajneeshpuram
Chapter 12 "Obliterating an Idol of the Modern Age": The New Iconoclasm from the Twin Buddhas to the Twin Towers
Chapter 13 Is War Normal for American Evangelical Religion?
Chapter 14 On Political Theology, Imperial Ambitions, and Messianic Pretensions: Some Ancient and Modern Continuities
This cross-disciplinary group of scholars provides fascinating studies across historical periods and religious traditions - all centered around the crucial theoretical point that religious group identities both promote solidarity and can facilitate violence. An important contribution to a timely and urgent conversation.
— Rhys H. Williams, University of Cincinnati, Editor, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion


The case studies in this interesting volume show that religion and violence have been associated throughout history and around the world. From the ancient Near East to 20th century China and contemporary Thailand, violent acts have been committed in the name of religion. Drawing on diverse traditions and theoretical perspectives, this lively volume enlarges our understanding of this dark attraction between bloodshed and belief.
— Mark Juergensmeyer, professor emeritus of global studies and sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara


Belief and Bloodshed has a definite advantage over similar ones in that it offers a fairly global and historical perspective on its subject. ...All those interested in the nexus of religion and violence - either from a purely academic standpoint or with practical intentions toward the reclamation of faith from its historical and lamentable darker tendencies - would be well served by this important book.
— 2008; Encyclopedia Of Arkansas History and Culture


Of the many volumes published on religious violence in the last few years, few rise to the level of Belief and Bloodshed.... A definite advantage over similar ones in that it offers a fairly global and historical perspective on its subject, rather than focusing on the monotheistic traditions and the modern age, as is popular....All those interested in the nexus of religion and violence—either from a purely academic standpoint or with practical intentions toward the reclamation of faith from its historical and lamentable darker tendencies—would be well served by this important book.
— 2008; Ploughshares Magazine


Global in scope and acutely sensitive to local manifestations of religious violence in ancient and modern times, this is the best anthology on religion and violence available today. No one interested in the relationship between religion and violence can afford to ignore this intelligent and well-rounded discussion.
— Hector Avalos, Iowa State University


Belief and Bloodshed

Religion and Violence across Time and Tradition

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • Intended for students as well as scholars of religion and violence, Belief and Bloodshed discusses how the relationship between religion and violence is not unique to a post-9/11 world—it has existed throughout all of recorded history and culture. The book makes clear the complex interactions between religion, violence, and politics to show that religion as always innocent or always evil is misguided, and that rationalizations by religion for political power and violence are not new. Chronologically organized, the book shows religiously motivated violence across a variety of historical periods and cultures, moving from the ancient to medieval to the modern world, ending with an essay comparing the speeches of an ancient king to the speeches of the current U.S. President.
Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 280 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9⅜
    978-0-7425-5823-6 • Hardback • February 2007 • $140.00 • (£108.00)
    978-0-7425-5824-3 • Paperback • February 2007 • $52.00 • (£40.00)
    978-0-7425-7134-1 • eBook • February 2007 • $49.00 • (£38.00)
    Subjects: Religion / RELIGION / Politics & State
Author
Author
  • James Wellman is associate professor in the Comparative Religion Program at the University of Washington.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • 1 Introduction: Religion and Violence: Past, Present and Future
    Part 2 The Ancient and Medieval World
    Chapter 2 Dismemberment, Creation, and Ritual: Images of Divine Violence in the Ancient Near East
    Chapter 3 Making Memory: Ritual, Rhetoric, and Violence in the Roman Triumph
    Chapter 4 Taming the Beast: Rabbinic Pacification of Second Century Jewish Nationalism
    Chapter 5 Violent Yearnings for the Kingdom of God: Münster's Militant Anabaptism
    Chapter 6 Imperial Christianity and Sacred War in Byzantium
    Chapter 7 Founding an Empire of Sacrifice: Innocent Domination and the Quaker Martyrs of Boston, 1659-1661
    Part 7 The Modern World
    Chapter 8 Holy Culture Wars: Patterns of Ethno-Religious Violence in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century China
    Chapter 9 Femicide as Terrorism: The Case of Uzbekistan's Unveiling
    Chapter 10 Monks, Guns and Peace: Theravada Buddhism and Political Violence
    Chapter 11 Avoiding Mass Violence at Rajneeshpuram
    Chapter 12 "Obliterating an Idol of the Modern Age": The New Iconoclasm from the Twin Buddhas to the Twin Towers
    Chapter 13 Is War Normal for American Evangelical Religion?
    Chapter 14 On Political Theology, Imperial Ambitions, and Messianic Pretensions: Some Ancient and Modern Continuities
Reviews
Reviews
  • This cross-disciplinary group of scholars provides fascinating studies across historical periods and religious traditions - all centered around the crucial theoretical point that religious group identities both promote solidarity and can facilitate violence. An important contribution to a timely and urgent conversation.
    — Rhys H. Williams, University of Cincinnati, Editor, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion


    The case studies in this interesting volume show that religion and violence have been associated throughout history and around the world. From the ancient Near East to 20th century China and contemporary Thailand, violent acts have been committed in the name of religion. Drawing on diverse traditions and theoretical perspectives, this lively volume enlarges our understanding of this dark attraction between bloodshed and belief.
    — Mark Juergensmeyer, professor emeritus of global studies and sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara


    Belief and Bloodshed has a definite advantage over similar ones in that it offers a fairly global and historical perspective on its subject. ...All those interested in the nexus of religion and violence - either from a purely academic standpoint or with practical intentions toward the reclamation of faith from its historical and lamentable darker tendencies - would be well served by this important book.
    — 2008; Encyclopedia Of Arkansas History and Culture


    Of the many volumes published on religious violence in the last few years, few rise to the level of Belief and Bloodshed.... A definite advantage over similar ones in that it offers a fairly global and historical perspective on its subject, rather than focusing on the monotheistic traditions and the modern age, as is popular....All those interested in the nexus of religion and violence—either from a purely academic standpoint or with practical intentions toward the reclamation of faith from its historical and lamentable darker tendencies—would be well served by this important book.
    — 2008; Ploughshares Magazine


    Global in scope and acutely sensitive to local manifestations of religious violence in ancient and modern times, this is the best anthology on religion and violence available today. No one interested in the relationship between religion and violence can afford to ignore this intelligent and well-rounded discussion.
    — Hector Avalos, Iowa State University


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