The Shepherd of Hermas (70-150 CE) is one of the oldest Christian
works from a major urban center. While the majority of manuscript
evidence of the Shepherd is concentrated in North Africa, the work
has long-standing association with the city of Rome. It consists of
three major sections: the Book of Visions, the Mandates, and the
Similitudes. The Shepherd was enormously popular during the early
centuries as a catechetical text used for moral formation. Its
manuscript evidence during the early centuries far exceeded that of
the Gospels. This book uses cognitive literary theory, specifically
the approach known as enactive reading, to investigate why a work
that was exceedingly popular among readers in antiquity has failed
to receive the same reception by modern scholars. The study focuses
on the first section of the Shepherd known as the Book of Visions,
which narrates Hermas's visionary experiences in first-person
voice. The book argues that enactive reading can help to generate
immersive experiences of Hermas's visions and explain the success
and appeal of the Book of Visions among ancient readers. Cognitive
approaches also highlight how modern scholars trained to read
apocalypses 'against the grain' to search for historical or
theological information fail to notice and appreciate the very
things that made apocalypses engaging and entertaining to a broad
range of ancient readers and hearers.
General
Imprint: |
Equinox Publishing Ltd
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Series: |
Studies in Ancient Religion and Culture |
Release date: |
July 2023 |
Authors: |
Angela Kim Harkins
|
Dimensions: |
234 x 155mm (L x W) |
Pages: |
240 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-80050-327-4 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-80050-327-X |
Barcode: |
9781800503274 |
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