
The Idea Of Saints And Sainthood Are Familiar To All, Irrelevant Of Religious Faith. In This Very Short Introduction, Simon Yarrow Looks At The Origins, Ideas, And Definitions Of Sainthood, Sanctity, And Saints In The Early Church, Tracing Their Development In History And Explaining The Social Roles Saints Played In The Ancient, Medieval, And Modern Worlds. Along The Way Yarrow Considers The Treatment Of Saints As Objects Of Literary And Artistic Expression And Interpretation, And As Examples Of Idealised Male And Female Heroism, And Compares Christian Saints And Holy Figures To Venerated Figures In Other Religious Cultures, Including Islam, Buddhism, And Hinduism. He Concludes By Considering The Experiences Of Devotees To Saints, And Looking At How Saints Continue To Be A Powerful Presence In Our Modern World. About The Series: The Very Short Introductions Series From Oxford University Press Contains Hundreds Of Titles In Almost Every Subject Area. These Pocket-sized Books Are The Perfect Way To Get Ahead In A New Subject Quickly. Our Expert Authors Combine Facts, Analysis, Perspective, New Ideas, And Enthusiasm To Make Interesting And Challenging Topics Highly Readable.
This book investigates the historical evolution, social function, and cultural significance of sainthood across diverse religious traditions. Simon Yarrow, a scholar of religious history, utilizes a comparative framework to examine how the concept of the saint has been constructed and maintained from the early Church to the contemporary era. By analyzing primary historical texts and artistic representations, the author argues that sainthood serves as a dynamic mechanism for defining ideal behavior and community identity.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this work as a concise and accessible entry point for understanding the complex sociological and historical dimensions of sainthood. Readers frequently note that the text maintains a high level of academic rigor while remaining approachable for those new to the study of religious history.
Page Count:
144
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191664197
ISBN-13:
9780191664199
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!