
- 336 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
A leading scholar of ascetical studies, Richard Valantasis explores a variety of ascetical traditions ranging from the Greco-Roman philosophy of Musonius Rufus, the asceticism found in the Nag Hammadi Library and in certain Gnostic texts, the Gospel of Thomas, and other early Christian texts. This collection gathers historical and theoretical essays that develop a theory of asceticism that informs the analysis of historical texts and opens the way for postmodern ascetical studies. Wide-ranging in historical scope and in developing theory, these essays address asceticism for scholar and student alike. The theory will be of particular interest to those interested in cultural theory and analysis, while the historical essays provide the researcher with easy access to a significant corpus of academic writing on asceticism.
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Information
Table of contents
- Title Page
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Part One: Theory
- Chapter 1: A Theory of the Social Function of Asceticism
- Chapter 2: Constructions of Power in Asceticism
- Chapter 3: Asceticism as a Sacred Marriage
- Chapter 4: Asceticism or Formation
- Chapter 5: A Theory of Asceticism, Revised
- Part Two: Christian Asceticism
- Chapter 6: Uncovering Adam’s Esoteric Body
- Chapter 7: Daemons and the Perfecting of the Monk’s Body
- Chapter 8: Ascetical Withdrawal and the Second Letter of Basil the Great
- Chapter 9: Is the Gospel of Thomas Ascetical?
- Chapter 10: Competing Ascetic Subjectivities in the Letter to the Galatians
- Part Three: Roman Asceticism
- Chapter 11: Nag Hammadi and Asceticism: Theory and Practice
- Chapter 12: Demons, Adversaries, Devils, Fishermen
- Chapter 13: Musonius Rufus and Roman Ascetical Theory
- Bibliography