Religion Archives | National Humanities Center

Religion

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Becoming Christian: The Conversion of Roman Cappadocia

By Raymond Van Dam (NHC Fellow, 1986–87) In a richly textured investigation of the transformation of Cappadocia during the fourth century, Becoming Christian: The Conversion of Roman Cappadocia examines the local impact of Christianity on traditional Greek and Roman society. The Cappadocians Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Eunomius of Cyzicus were influential … Continued

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Controversies. Vol. 14, Responsio ad epistolam paraeneticam Alberti Pii, Apologia adversus rhapsodias Alberti Pii, Brevissima scholia

By ErasmusEdited by Nelson H. Minnich (NHC Fellow, 2004–05) This new volume of the CWE presents three of Erasmus' polemic works against Alberto Pio, Prince of Carpi. A leading diplomat of the period, patron of artists and humanists, and conservative Catholic, Pio continually angered Erasmus by criticizing him for his denunciations of church practices and … Continued

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Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia

Edited by Charles D. Orzech (NHC Fellow, 2009–10), Henrik H. Sorensen, and Richard K. Payne In all likelihood, it was the form of Buddhism labeled “Esoteric Buddhism” that had the greatest geographical spread of any form of Buddhism. It left its imprint not only on its native India, but far beyond, on Southeast Asia, Central … Continued

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Germans, Jews, and the Claims of Modernity

By Jonathan M. Hess (NHC Fellow, 1999–00) In the analysis of the debates in Germany over Jews, Judaism and Jewish emancipation in the late 18th and 19th centuries, Jonathan M. Hess reconstructs a crucial chapter in the history of secular anti-Semitism. He examines not only the thinking of German intellectuals of the time but also … Continued

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Islamic Modern: Religious Courts and Cultural Politics in Malaysia

By Michael G. Peletz (NHC Fellow, 1999–00) How do Islamic courts work? What sorts of cultural understandings inform judicial process and litigants’ strategies? How do women’s claims fare? Do these courts promote social tolerance? And how do states use them to consolidate power, build nations, and shape a modern citizenry? These are among the questions … Continued

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Making Muslim Space in North America and Europe

Edited by Barbara Daly Metcalf (NHC Fellow, 1989–90) Focusing on the private and public use of space, this volume explores the religious life of the new Muslim communities in North America and Europe. Unlike most studies of immigrant groups, these essays concentrate on cultural practices and expressions of everyday life rather than on the political … Continued

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Perfecting Women: Maulana Ashraf `Ali Thanawi’s Bihishti Zewar: A Partial Translation with Commentary

Translated by Barbara Daly Metcalf (NHC Fellow, 1989–90) Challenging conventional notions about the place of women in Muslim societies, the Bihishti Zewar (Heavenly Ornaments) gives life to the themes of religious and social reform that have too often been treated in the abstract. This instructional guidebook, used by the world's largest population of Muslims, is a vital … Continued

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Religion and the Obligations of Citizenship

By Paul J. Weithman (NHC Fellow, 2000–01) This book takes issue with those who would seek to place restrictions on the participation of religious organizations in politics, arguing that their position underestimates the benefits, and overestimates the costs, of having religiously motivated citizens participate in this way. It will appeal to readers in philosophy and … Continued

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Selling Jerusalem: Relics, Replicas, Theme Parks

By Annabel Jane Wharton (NHC Fellow, 1985–86; 2002–03; 2016–17) Jerusalem currently stands at the center of a violent controversy that threatens the stability of both the Middle East and the world. This volatility, observes Annabel Jane Wharton, is only the most recent manifestation of a centuries-old obsession with the control of the Holy City—military occupation and … Continued