Christians and the Holy Places - The Myth of Jewish-Christian Origins (Hardcover)

The origins of Christian holy places in Palestine and the beginnings of Christian pilgrimage to these sites have seemed obscure. From a detailed examination of the literature and archaeology pertaining to specific sites and the region in general, the present author finds no evidence that Christians of any kind venerated 'holy places' before the fourth century. It appears that scholarly Christians had visited certain Biblical sites out of historical and exegetical concerns, but that these sites were not considered holy, or the visitors as 'pilgrims'. Instead, the origins of Christian pilgrimage and holy places rest with the emperor Constantine, who established four basilicas in Palestine c. 325-30 and provided two imperial matrons, Helena and Eutropia, as examples of a new kind of pious pilgrim. Pilgrimage to intrinsically sacred shrines had been a pagan practice, which was grafted on to Christianity. Many Jewish, Samaritan, and pagan sites were thereafter appropriated by the church and turned into Christian holy places. This process helped to destroy the widespread paganism of Palestine and mark the country as a 'holy land'. Very few sites are genuine, the most important being the cave (not Garden) of Gethsemane, in which Jesus was probably arrested.

General

Imprint:	Clarendon Press
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	April 1993
Authors:	Joan E. Taylor (Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Religious Studies, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand and Honorary Research Fellow, Departments of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, and in History, University College London)
Dimensions:	224 x 148 x 33mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	406
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-814785-5
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > World history > BCE to 500 CE Books > Humanities > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Books > Humanities > Archaeology > Archaeology by period / region > General Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Christian worship > General Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian religions > Judaism > General Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Worship > General Books > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Books > History > World history > BCE to 500 CE Books > Religion & Spirituality > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Worship > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian worship > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian religions > Judaism > General Books > Christianity > Christian Worship
LSN:	0-19-814785-6
Barcode:	9780198147855

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