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An Apostle for Atheists: Paul and the Quest for Radical Philosophy
by Dr Ole Jakob LølandWhat is a modern philosopher to make of Paul, the apostle? What do non-Christian philosophers in Europe gain from reading ancient letters from Christianity's first great ideologue, and letters addressed to groups of people lost to time? To ask this question is to acknowledge that despite religious faith being regarded by many as a stage that our modern societies have left behind, contemporary philosophers are confronted with questions such as multiculturalism and religious fundamentalism in the wake of immigration and the increasing presence of religious minorities.The Letters of Paul have gained the interest of several philosophers, and the interpretations of the apostle have taken many forms. Looking closely at Paul's letters which have gained most interest from atheist philosophers, The First Letter to the Corinthians and the Letter to the Romans, this book offers an overview of the various ways they have been understood. It pays close attention also to the readings of Paul in the three thinkers, Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud – canonized as two of the great pillars of the modern critique of religion – with Spinoza as one of their important predecessors. Confronting these readings with insights not only from the more recent philosophical readings of the apostle but also from historical-critical scholarship on the Bible, this book lifts the veil over a new picture of the apostle as a figure with potential value for non-Christians and atheists.An Apostle for Atheists leaves us with ideas that compel us to reconsider Paul's negative reputation for secular modernity and appreciate him as a figure of a radically new politics as well as a renewed psychoanalysis.
An Apostle for Atheists: Paul and the Quest for Radical Philosophy
by Dr Ole Jakob LølandWhat is a modern philosopher to make of Paul, the apostle? What do non-Christian philosophers in Europe gain from reading ancient letters from Christianity's first great ideologue, and letters addressed to groups of people lost to time? To ask this question is to acknowledge that despite religious faith being regarded by many as a stage that our modern societies have left behind, contemporary philosophers are confronted with questions such as multiculturalism and religious fundamentalism in the wake of immigration and the increasing presence of religious minorities.The Letters of Paul have gained the interest of several philosophers, and the interpretations of the apostle have taken many forms. Looking closely at Paul's letters which have gained most interest from atheist philosophers, The First Letter to the Corinthians and the Letter to the Romans, this book offers an overview of the various ways they have been understood. It pays close attention also to the readings of Paul in the three thinkers, Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud – canonized as two of the great pillars of the modern critique of religion – with Spinoza as one of their important predecessors. Confronting these readings with insights not only from the more recent philosophical readings of the apostle but also from historical-critical scholarship on the Bible, this book lifts the veil over a new picture of the apostle as a figure with potential value for non-Christians and atheists.An Apostle for Atheists leaves us with ideas that compel us to reconsider Paul's negative reputation for secular modernity and appreciate him as a figure of a radically new politics as well as a renewed psychoanalysis.
Apostle to Mary Magdalene
by Julie De Vere HuntAlludes to the premise that Mary Magdalene was a former prostitute and had a child by Jesus. Ties in with a new blockbuster film of Mary Magdalene starring Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix. Released on the day after the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene on July 22 officially recognised by the Vatican since 2016! No woman in the history of Christianity has captured the imagination more since the publication of Dan Brown s novel the Da Vinci Code brought her back into our consciousness. Repentant sinner, bride of Jesus, mother, teacher, healer and priestess.... these are just some of the roles ascribed to her. De Vere Hunt started hearing an inner voice and several events led her to believe it was Mary Magdalene, urging her to write this book. In an easy-to-read A-Z format, de Vere Hunt provides an overview of what little we do know about her from religious scholars gleaned from both the New Testament Gospels and the Gnostic Gospels relatively recently. The author touches on quantum physics and discusses metaphysical phenomena such as the Akashic Records, Cellular Memory, Meditation and the Zero Point Field as an additional source to establish the truth. Through her inner voice and access to the Akashic Records de Vere Hunt draws her own conclusions about the myths and legends surrounding Mary Magdalene. The revelations will seem at best unbelievable and even heretical to some, but historically only what we don t understand is ascribed to magic/witchcraft. Many major discoveries have been met with violent opposition as they contravene our belief systems. De Vere Hunt is confident her theories will be borne out by quantum physics in the fullness of time. Controversy is preferable to lack of interest or apathy and brings Mary Magdalene back into our consciousness to enable her to fulfil her role in present day. Mary Magdalene is here in our midst now to help us make the transition into the Age of Aquarius where the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine will stand side by side in equal partnership and enable us to live in a better world. De Vere Hunt gives practical suggestions as to how we can all experience heaven on earth and give us hope for a better future.
The Apostles' Creed: and its Early Christian Context
by Piotr Ashwin-SiejkowskiThe Apostles' Creed is an expression of Christian theology that was formed in a period of fascinating and creative debate. The creed is not simply a dogmatic, static, and cryptic symbol of Christian faith, but, on the contrary, a lively narrative that can still inspire imagination, critical reflection, and faith. In The Apostle's Creed, the ancient debates that led to the formulation of its twelve pronouncements are examined. The richness of early Christian thought is explored by looking at the ideas behind each creedal pronouncement and tracing the theological debates that inspired each statement. Early Christian theology is not treated as 'unanimous,' but as pluralistic. The polyphony of theological opinion, which characterized the Christianity of this period, is therefore highlighted and celebrated. In explaining the context that gave birth to the creed, this study refers to the testimony of various 'witnesses' of those theological arguments. This includes opponents of the apostolic and church Fathers: the Gnostics, 'heretics,' and Jewish and pagan critics of Christian faith.
The Apostles' Creed: A Faith to Live By
by C. E. CranfieldWritten in the belief that it is important for Christians to love God with the mind as well as the heart, soul and strength, this book clearly and concisely explains the Apostle's Creed for anyone who wishes a fuller understanding of what Christians believe. The Apostle's Creed dates from the very early times of the Church. Legend has it that the Apostles wrote this creed on the tenth day after Christ's ascension into heaven. That is not the case, though the name stuck. After briefly describing the historical origins and present day importance of the Creed, C.E.B. Cransfield discusses each line in language that is precise, straightforward and simple, yet not condescending. He draws heavily on Scripture to explain the Creed and stresses the importance of faith being both individual and collective, continually showing how this ancient Creed's affirmation relate in practical ways to life in today's world.
Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism
by Molly WorthenEvangelical Christianity is a paradox. Evangelicals are radically individualist, but devoted to community and family. They believe in the transformative power of a personal relationship with God, but are wary of religious enthusiasm. They are deeply skeptical of secular reason, but eager to find scientific proof that the Bible is true. In this groundbreaking history of modern American evangelicalism, Molly Worthen argues that these contradictions are the products of a crisis of authority that lies at the heart of the faith. Evangelicals have never had a single authority to guide them through these dilemmas or settle the troublesome question of what the Bible actually means. Worthen chronicles the ideological warfare, institutional conflict, and clashes between modern gurus and maverick disciples that lurk behind the more familiar narrative of the rise of the Christian Right. The result is an ambitious intellectual history that weaves together stories from all corners of the evangelical world to explain the ideas and personalities-the scholarly ambitions and anti-intellectual impulses-that have made evangelicalism a cultural and political force. In Apostles of Reason, Worthen recasts American evangelicalism as a movement defined not by shared doctrines or politics, but by the problem of reconciling head knowledge and heart religion in an increasingly secular America. She shows that understanding the rise of the Christian Right in purely political terms, as most scholars have done, misses the heart of the story. The culture wars of the late twentieth century emerged not only from the struggle between religious conservatives and secular liberals, but also from the civil war within evangelicalism itself-a battle over how to uphold the commands of both faith and reason, and how ultimately to lead the nation back onto the path of righteousness.
Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism
by Molly WorthenEvangelical Christianity is a paradox. Evangelicals are radically individualist, but devoted to community and family. They believe in the transformative power of a personal relationship with God, but are wary of religious enthusiasm. They are deeply skeptical of secular reason, but eager to find scientific proof that the Bible is true. In this groundbreaking history of modern American evangelicalism, Molly Worthen argues that these contradictions are the products of a crisis of authority that lies at the heart of the faith. Evangelicals have never had a single authority to guide them through these dilemmas or settle the troublesome question of what the Bible actually means. Worthen chronicles the ideological warfare, institutional conflict, and clashes between modern gurus and maverick disciples that lurk behind the more familiar narrative of the rise of the Christian Right. The result is an ambitious intellectual history that weaves together stories from all corners of the evangelical world to explain the ideas and personalities-the scholarly ambitions and anti-intellectual impulses-that have made evangelicalism a cultural and political force. In Apostles of Reason, Worthen recasts American evangelicalism as a movement defined not by shared doctrines or politics, but by the problem of reconciling head knowledge and heart religion in an increasingly secular America. She shows that understanding the rise of the Christian Right in purely political terms, as most scholars have done, misses the heart of the story. The culture wars of the late twentieth century emerged not only from the struggle between religious conservatives and secular liberals, but also from the civil war within evangelicalism itself-a battle over how to uphold the commands of both faith and reason, and how ultimately to lead the nation back onto the path of righteousness.
The Apostolic Fathers: An Introduction and Translation
by William VarnerWilliam Varner provides a completely up-to-date introduction to the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. These 1st-2nd Century texts are foundational for the early Christian movement, and the interpretation of the New Testament in the earliest days of what was to later become known as Christianity. Beyond introducing the individual writers Varner also presents and situates their writings, with each chapter offering an introduction followed by key texts. Varner translates these works afresh, and situates them in their original contexts. The introductory materials help readers to interpret these various writings and outline the most important scholarly debates around them, whilst also giving readers access to the texts themselves. The book concludes with a chapter that shows how the Apostolic Fathers are relevant in the 21st century, drawing together threads of reception history and modern Christian theology.
The Apostolic Fathers: An Introduction and Translation
by William VarnerWilliam Varner provides a completely up-to-date introduction to the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. These 1st-2nd Century texts are foundational for the early Christian movement, and the interpretation of the New Testament in the earliest days of what was to later become known as Christianity. Beyond introducing the individual writers Varner also presents and situates their writings, with each chapter offering an introduction followed by key texts. Varner translates these works afresh, and situates them in their original contexts. The introductory materials help readers to interpret these various writings and outline the most important scholarly debates around them, whilst also giving readers access to the texts themselves. The book concludes with a chapter that shows how the Apostolic Fathers are relevant in the 21st century, drawing together threads of reception history and modern Christian theology.
The Apostolic Fathers and Paul (Pauline and Patristic Scholars in Debate #2)
by Todd D. Still David E. WilhiteBuilding on the work of Tertullian and Paul this volume continues a series of specially commissioned studies by leading voices in New Testament/Early Christianity and Patristics studies to consider how Paul was read, interpreted and received by the Church Fathers. In this volume the use of Paul's writings is examined within the work of the Apostolic Fathers. Issue of influence, reception, theology and history are examined to show how Paul's work influenced the developing theology of the early Church. The literary style of Paul's output is also examined. The contributors to the volume represent leading lights in the study of the Apostolic Fathers, as well as respected names from the field of New Testament studies.
Appalling Bodies: Queer Figures Before and After Paul's Letters
by Joseph A. MarchalThe letters of Paul are among the most commonly cited biblical texts in ongoing cultural and religious disputes about gender, sexuality, and embodiment. Appalling Bodies reframes these uses of the letters by reaching past Paul toward other, far more fascinating figures that appear before, after, and within the letters. The letters repeat ancient stereotypes about women, eunuchs, slaves, and barbarians--in their Roman imperial setting, each of these overlapping groups were cast as debased, dangerous, and complicated. Joseph Marchal presents new ways for us to think about these dangers and complications with the help of queer theory. Appalling Bodies juxtaposes these ancient figures against recent figures of gender and sexual variation, in order to defamiliarize and reorient what can be known about both. The connections between the marginalization and stigmatization of these figures troubles the history, ethics, and politics of biblical interpretation. Ultimately, Marchal assembles and reintroduces us to Appalling Bodies from then and now, and the study of Paul's letters may never be the same.
Appalling Bodies: Queer Figures Before and After Paul's Letters
by Joseph A. MarchalThe letters of Paul are among the most commonly cited biblical texts in ongoing cultural and religious disputes about gender, sexuality, and embodiment. Appalling Bodies reframes these uses of the letters by reaching past Paul toward other, far more fascinating figures that appear before, after, and within the letters. The letters repeat ancient stereotypes about women, eunuchs, slaves, and barbarians--in their Roman imperial setting, each of these overlapping groups were cast as debased, dangerous, and complicated. Joseph Marchal presents new ways for us to think about these dangers and complications with the help of queer theory. Appalling Bodies juxtaposes these ancient figures against recent figures of gender and sexual variation, in order to defamiliarize and reorient what can be known about both. The connections between the marginalization and stigmatization of these figures troubles the history, ethics, and politics of biblical interpretation. Ultimately, Marchal assembles and reintroduces us to Appalling Bodies from then and now, and the study of Paul's letters may never be the same.
Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary
by Janet GyatsoApparitions of the Self is a groundbreaking investigation into what is known in Tibet as "secret autobiography," an exceptional, rarely studied literary genre that presents a personal exploration of intimate religious experiences. In this volume, Janet Gyatso translates and studies the outstanding pair of secret autobiographies by the famed Tibetan Buddhist visionary, Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798), whose poetic and self-conscious writings are as much about the nature of his own identity, memory, and the undecidabilities of autobiographical truth as they are narrations of the actual content of his experiences. Their translation in this book marks the first time that works of this sort have been translated in a Western language. Gyatso is among the first to consider Tibetan literature from a comparative perspective, examining the surprising fit--as well as the misfit--of Western literary theory with Tibetan autobiography. She examines the intriguing questions of why Tibetan Buddhists produced so many autobiographies (far more than other Asian Buddhists) and how autobiographical self-assertion is possible even while Buddhists believe that the self is ultimately an illusion. Also explored are Jigme Lingpa's historical milieu, his revelatory visions of the ancient Tibetan dynasty, and his meditative practices of personal cultivation. The book concludes with a study of the subversive female figure of the "Dakini" in Jigme Lingpa's writings, and the implications of her gender, her sexuality, and her unsettling discourse for the autobiographical subject in Tibet.
An Appeal to the World: His Holiness The Dalai Lama - The Way To Peace In A Time Of Division (G - Reference, Information And Interdisciplinary Subjects Ser.)
by Dalai LamaIn An Appeal to the World, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet illuminates the way to peace in our time, arguing for a form of universal ethics that goes beyond religion – values we all share as humans that can help us create unity and peace to heal our world.
Appearance and Identity: Fashioning the Body in Postmodernity
by L. NegrinThis book casts a critical look at the dominant position that fashion has come to occupy in contemporary society. It addresses various aspects of fashion in postmodern culture including makeup, cosmetic surgery, tattoos, ornament in dress and the blurring of gender boundaries.
An Appetite For Wonder: The Making Of A Scientist
by Richard DawkinsBorn to parents who were enthusiastic naturalists, and linked through his wider family to a clutch of accomplished scientists, Richard Dawkins was bound to have biology in his genes. But what were the influences that shaped his life? And who inspired him to become the pioneering scientist and public thinker now famous (and infamous to some) around the world?In An Appetite for Wonder we join him on a personal journey from an enchanting childhood in colonial Africa, through the eccentricities of boarding school in England, to his studies at the University of Oxford’s dynamic Zoology Department, which sparked his radical new vision of Darwinism, The Selfish Gene. Through Dawkins’s honest self-reflection, touching reminiscences and witty anecdotes, we are finally able to understand the private influences that shaped the public man who, more than anyone else in his generation, explained our own origins.
Apple Blossom Bride (Serenity Bay #2)
by Lois RicherAfter a car accident, Ashley Adams came home to Serenity Bay to heal her broken body - and her broken spirit.
The Apple of His Eye: Converts from Islam in the Reign of Louis IX (Jews, Christians, And Muslims From The Ancient To The Modern World Ser. #4)
by William Chester JordanThe thirteenth century brought new urgency to Catholic efforts to convert non-Christians, and no Catholic ruler was more dedicated to this undertaking than King Louis IX of France. His military expeditions against Islam are well documented, but there was also a peaceful side to his encounter with the Muslim world, one that has received little attention until now. This splendid book shines new light on the king’s program to induce Muslims—the “apple of his eye”—to voluntarily convert to Christianity and resettle in France. It recovers a forgotten but important episode in the history of the Crusades while providing a rare window into the fraught experiences of the converts themselves.William Chester Jordan transforms our understanding of medieval Christian-Muslim relations by telling the stories of the Muslims who came to France to live as Christians. Under what circumstances did they willingly convert? How successfully did they assimilate into French society? What forms of resistance did they employ? In examining questions like these, Jordan weaves a richly detailed portrait of a dazzling yet violent age whose lessons still resonate today.Until now, scholars have dismissed historical accounts of the king’s peaceful conversion of Muslims as hagiographical and therefore untrustworthy. Jordan takes these narratives seriously—and uncovers archival evidence to back them up. He brings his findings marvelously to life in this succinct and compelling book, setting them in the context of the Seventh Crusade and the universalizing Catholic impulse to convert the world.
The Apple of His Eye: Converts from Islam in the Reign of Louis IX
by William Chester JordanThe thirteenth century brought new urgency to Catholic efforts to convert non-Christians, and no Catholic ruler was more dedicated to this undertaking than King Louis IX of France. His military expeditions against Islam are well documented, but there was also a peaceful side to his encounter with the Muslim world, one that has received little attention until now. This splendid book shines new light on the king’s program to induce Muslims—the “apple of his eye”—to voluntarily convert to Christianity and resettle in France. It recovers a forgotten but important episode in the history of the Crusades while providing a rare window into the fraught experiences of the converts themselves.William Chester Jordan transforms our understanding of medieval Christian-Muslim relations by telling the stories of the Muslims who came to France to live as Christians. Under what circumstances did they willingly convert? How successfully did they assimilate into French society? What forms of resistance did they employ? In examining questions like these, Jordan weaves a richly detailed portrait of a dazzling yet violent age whose lessons still resonate today.Until now, scholars have dismissed historical accounts of the king’s peaceful conversion of Muslims as hagiographical and therefore untrustworthy. Jordan takes these narratives seriously—and uncovers archival evidence to back them up. He brings his findings marvelously to life in this succinct and compelling book, setting them in the context of the Seventh Crusade and the universalizing Catholic impulse to convert the world.
Apple Orchard Bride: An Amish Reunion Apple Orchard Bride Rocky Mountain Cowboy (Goose Harbor #5)
by Jessica KellerHometown Reunion
Apples and Oranges: Explorations In, On, and With Comparison
by Bruce LincolnComparison is an indispensable intellectual operation that plays a crucial role in the formation of knowledge. Yet comparison often leads us to forego attention to nuance, detail, and context, perhaps leaving us bereft of an ethical obligation to take things correspondingly as they are. Examining the practice of comparison across the study of history, language, religion, and culture, distinguished scholar of religion Bruce Lincoln argues in Apples and Oranges for a comparatism of a more modest sort. Lincoln presents critiques of recent attempts at grand comparison, and enlists numerous theoretical examples of how a more modest, cautious, and discriminating form of comparison might work and what it can accomplish. He does this through studies of shamans, werewolves, human sacrifices, apocalyptic prophecies, sacred kings, and surveys of materials as diverse and wide-ranging as Beowulf, Herodotus’s account of the Scythians, the Native American Ghost Dance, and the Spanish Civil War. Ultimately, Lincoln argues that concentrating one's focus on a relatively small number of items that the researcher can compare closely, offering equal attention to relations of similarity and difference, not only grants dignity to all parties considered, it yields more reliable and more interesting—if less grandiose—results. Giving equal attention to the social, historical, and political contexts and subtexts of religious and literary texts also allows scholars not just to assess their content, but also to understand the forces, problems, and circumstances that motivated and shaped them.
Apples and Oranges: Explorations In, On, and With Comparison
by Bruce LincolnComparison is an indispensable intellectual operation that plays a crucial role in the formation of knowledge. Yet comparison often leads us to forego attention to nuance, detail, and context, perhaps leaving us bereft of an ethical obligation to take things correspondingly as they are. Examining the practice of comparison across the study of history, language, religion, and culture, distinguished scholar of religion Bruce Lincoln argues in Apples and Oranges for a comparatism of a more modest sort. Lincoln presents critiques of recent attempts at grand comparison, and enlists numerous theoretical examples of how a more modest, cautious, and discriminating form of comparison might work and what it can accomplish. He does this through studies of shamans, werewolves, human sacrifices, apocalyptic prophecies, sacred kings, and surveys of materials as diverse and wide-ranging as Beowulf, Herodotus’s account of the Scythians, the Native American Ghost Dance, and the Spanish Civil War. Ultimately, Lincoln argues that concentrating one's focus on a relatively small number of items that the researcher can compare closely, offering equal attention to relations of similarity and difference, not only grants dignity to all parties considered, it yields more reliable and more interesting—if less grandiose—results. Giving equal attention to the social, historical, and political contexts and subtexts of religious and literary texts also allows scholars not just to assess their content, but also to understand the forces, problems, and circumstances that motivated and shaped them.
Apples and Oranges: Explorations In, On, and With Comparison
by Bruce LincolnComparison is an indispensable intellectual operation that plays a crucial role in the formation of knowledge. Yet comparison often leads us to forego attention to nuance, detail, and context, perhaps leaving us bereft of an ethical obligation to take things correspondingly as they are. Examining the practice of comparison across the study of history, language, religion, and culture, distinguished scholar of religion Bruce Lincoln argues in Apples and Oranges for a comparatism of a more modest sort. Lincoln presents critiques of recent attempts at grand comparison, and enlists numerous theoretical examples of how a more modest, cautious, and discriminating form of comparison might work and what it can accomplish. He does this through studies of shamans, werewolves, human sacrifices, apocalyptic prophecies, sacred kings, and surveys of materials as diverse and wide-ranging as Beowulf, Herodotus’s account of the Scythians, the Native American Ghost Dance, and the Spanish Civil War. Ultimately, Lincoln argues that concentrating one's focus on a relatively small number of items that the researcher can compare closely, offering equal attention to relations of similarity and difference, not only grants dignity to all parties considered, it yields more reliable and more interesting—if less grandiose—results. Giving equal attention to the social, historical, and political contexts and subtexts of religious and literary texts also allows scholars not just to assess their content, but also to understand the forces, problems, and circumstances that motivated and shaped them.
Apples and Oranges: Explorations In, On, and With Comparison
by Bruce LincolnComparison is an indispensable intellectual operation that plays a crucial role in the formation of knowledge. Yet comparison often leads us to forego attention to nuance, detail, and context, perhaps leaving us bereft of an ethical obligation to take things correspondingly as they are. Examining the practice of comparison across the study of history, language, religion, and culture, distinguished scholar of religion Bruce Lincoln argues in Apples and Oranges for a comparatism of a more modest sort. Lincoln presents critiques of recent attempts at grand comparison, and enlists numerous theoretical examples of how a more modest, cautious, and discriminating form of comparison might work and what it can accomplish. He does this through studies of shamans, werewolves, human sacrifices, apocalyptic prophecies, sacred kings, and surveys of materials as diverse and wide-ranging as Beowulf, Herodotus’s account of the Scythians, the Native American Ghost Dance, and the Spanish Civil War. Ultimately, Lincoln argues that concentrating one's focus on a relatively small number of items that the researcher can compare closely, offering equal attention to relations of similarity and difference, not only grants dignity to all parties considered, it yields more reliable and more interesting—if less grandiose—results. Giving equal attention to the social, historical, and political contexts and subtexts of religious and literary texts also allows scholars not just to assess their content, but also to understand the forces, problems, and circumstances that motivated and shaped them.
Apples and Oranges: Explorations In, On, and With Comparison
by Bruce LincolnComparison is an indispensable intellectual operation that plays a crucial role in the formation of knowledge. Yet comparison often leads us to forego attention to nuance, detail, and context, perhaps leaving us bereft of an ethical obligation to take things correspondingly as they are. Examining the practice of comparison across the study of history, language, religion, and culture, distinguished scholar of religion Bruce Lincoln argues in Apples and Oranges for a comparatism of a more modest sort. Lincoln presents critiques of recent attempts at grand comparison, and enlists numerous theoretical examples of how a more modest, cautious, and discriminating form of comparison might work and what it can accomplish. He does this through studies of shamans, werewolves, human sacrifices, apocalyptic prophecies, sacred kings, and surveys of materials as diverse and wide-ranging as Beowulf, Herodotus’s account of the Scythians, the Native American Ghost Dance, and the Spanish Civil War. Ultimately, Lincoln argues that concentrating one's focus on a relatively small number of items that the researcher can compare closely, offering equal attention to relations of similarity and difference, not only grants dignity to all parties considered, it yields more reliable and more interesting—if less grandiose—results. Giving equal attention to the social, historical, and political contexts and subtexts of religious and literary texts also allows scholars not just to assess their content, but also to understand the forces, problems, and circumstances that motivated and shaped them.