Rethinking Christian Martyrdom: The Blood or the Seed?

Description

This book argues that we have been mistaken about a fundamental assumption: Christianity is not the key to understanding the “Christian” martyr. Examining martyrdom in early Christian history, Matt Recla argues that the violent deaths of martyrs, real and imagined, were appropriated for Christian institutional life. Through deconstructing martyrdom and appreciating the complexity of the martyr, we recognize martyrdom not as a socio-historical phenomenon inherent to particular ideologies, and not as a religious “identity,” but as the institutional co-optation of violence. The Christian apologist Tertullian argued that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church, but while the seed may be the key to martyrdom, the blood is the key to the martyr. The book shows martyrs exceed the bounds of institutional narrative. Centering analysis of martyrdom first around the martyr's existential difference and the complex biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors that lead to willing death, this book sheds new light on the motivations of martyrs, our fascination with them, and the parasitic relationship of religion to violent death. In challenging long-held beliefs about the praiseworthiness of martyrdom, this book is of interest to scholars of religion as well as those concerned about the relationship between religion and violence. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents Preface 1 Why Martyrdom at All? 2 “Willing Suicide”: Martyrdom as Self-Formation 3 “True Because a Man Dies for It”: Martyrdom as Institutional Violence 4 Blood Is Seed: Martyrdom and the Triumph of Christianity 5 “Voluntary” Martyrdom: Avoiding the Stigma of Suicide 6 “In Love with Death”: Pathology and Identity in Martyrdom 7 The Immorality of Religious Martyrdom Conclusion Notes Preface 1 Why Martyrdom at All? 2 “Willing Suicide”: Martyrdom as Self-Formation 3 “True Because a Man Dies for It”: Martyrdom as Institutional Violence 4 Blood Is Seed: Martyrdom and the Triumph of Christianity 5 “Voluntary” Martyrdom: Avoiding the 6 “In Love with Death”: Pathology and 7 The Immorality of Religious Martyrdom Conclusion Bibliography Index