Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World Book PDF, ePub eBook

Join our eBook service for unlimited books & audiobooks. Get a free 7 day subscription! ↓↓↓↓↓


Book Descriptions:

Much attention has been devoted in recent years to Christian asceticism in Late Antiquity. But Christianity did not introduce asceticism to the ancient world. An underlying theme of this fascinating study of pagan asceticism is that much of the work on Christian "holy men" has ignored earlier manifestations of asceticism in Antiquity and the way Roman society confronted it. Accordingly, James Francis turns to the second century, the "balmy late afternoon of Rome's classical empire," when the conflict between asceticism and authority reached a turning point.

Francis begins with the emperor Marcus Aurelius (121–180), who warned in his Meditations against "display[ing] oneself as a man keen to impress others with a reputation for asceticism or beneficence." The Stoic Aurelius saw ascetic self-discipline as a virtue, but one to be exercised in moderation. Like other Roman aristocrats of his day, he perceived practitioners of ostentatious physical asceticism as a threat to prevailing norms and the established order. Prophecy, sorcery, miracle working, charismatic leadership, expressions of social discontent, and advocacy of alternative values regarding wealth, property, marriage, and sexuality were the issues provoking the controversy.

If Aurelius defined the acceptable limits of ascetical practice, then the poet Lucian depicted the threat ascetics were perceived to pose to the social status quo through his biting satire. In an eye-opening analysis of Philostratus's Life of Apollonius of Tyana, Francis shows how Roman society reined in its deviant ascetics by "rehabilitating" them into pillars of traditional values. Celsus's True Doctrine shows how the views pagans held of their own ascetics influenced their negative view of Christianity. Finally, Francis points out striking parallels between the conflict over pagan asceticism and its Christian counterpart. By treating pagan asceticism seriously in its own right, Francis establishes the context necessary for understanding the great flowering of asceticism in Late Antiquity

Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World by James A. Francis

From reader reviews:

Seth Sawyer:

This book untitled Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World to be one of several books which best seller in this year, that is because when you read this e-book you can get a lot of benefit in it. You will easily to buy this book in the book retail outlet or you can order it by way of online. The publisher on this book sells the e-book too. It makes you more easily to read this book, as you can read this book in your Cell phone. So there is no reason for your requirements to past this reserve from your list.

Jason Cook:

People live in this new moment of lifestyle always aim to and must have the time or they will get lot of stress from both lifestyle and work. So , if we ask do people have extra time, we will say absolutely indeed. People is human not a robot. Then we question again, what kind of activity do you have when the spare time coming to a person of course your answer will certainly unlimited right. Then ever try this one, reading ebooks. It can be your alternative inside spending your spare time, the actual book you have read is usually Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World.

Ernestine Biggs:

Playing with family in a park, coming to see the ocean world or hanging out with close friends is thing that usually you may have done when you have spare time, and then why you don't try factor that really opposite from that. 1 activity that make you not sensation tired but still relaxing, trilling like on roller coaster you already been ride on and with addition info. Even you love Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World, it is possible to enjoy both. It is very good combination right, you still desire to miss it? What kind of hangout type is it? Oh seriously its mind hangout fellas. What? Still don't get it, oh come on its called reading friends.

Timothy Wrobel:

Do you really one of the book lovers? If so, do you ever feeling doubt when you find yourself in the book store? Try to pick one book that you never know the inside because don't ascertain book by its include may doesn't work is difficult job because you are frightened that the inside maybe not since fantastic as in the outside search likes. Maybe you answer can be Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World why because the excellent cover that make you consider regarding the content will not disappoint you actually. The inside or content will be fantastic as the outside as well as cover. Your reading sixth sense will directly guide you to pick up this book.