Sanctified Violence: Holy War in World History

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'This rich and engaging book looks at instances of sanctified violence, the holy wars related to religion. It covers it all, from ancient to present day, including examples of warfare among Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists, as well as Christians, Jews and Muslims. It is a comprehensive and readable overview that provides a lively introduction to the subject of holy war in its broadest senseas sanctified violence in the service of a god or ideology. It is certain to be a useful companion in the classroom, and a boon to anyone fascinated by the dark attraction of religion and violence.' Mark Juergensmeyer,University of California, Santa Barbara

Contents:

• Introduction: What Is Holy War
• Chapter 1: Holy Wars in Mythic Time, Holy Wars as Metaphor, Holy Wars as Ritual
• Chapter 2: Holy Wars of Conquest in the Name of a Deity
• Chapter 3: Holy Wars in Defense of the Sacred
• Chapter 4: Holy Wars in Anticipation of the Millennium
• Epilogue: Holy Wars Today and Tomorrow

Also included are a description of the Critical Themes in World History series, Preface, index, and suggestionsfor further reading.

Reviews

"With Andrea and Holt as sure-footed guides, Sanctified Violence tackles a vast subject: the global history of holy war in its many forms across the millennia. From cosmic struggles between forces of good and evil at the dawn of mythic time to apocalyptic battles at history's end, this book explores the transcendental impulses and religious ideologies that fuel and shape collective violence in virtually every culture and age. Modern military chaplains and armed Buddhist monks keep company with medieval Templars and Aztec Flower warriors. Sanctified Violence never pretends to have all the answers to difficult questions about warfare and the sacred, but rather invites reflective readers to appraise their complicated relationship for themselves. Richly illustrated, each chapter offers a detailed commentary on its major historical sources and poses questions for further analysis, making the volume ideal for the classroom." Brett E. Whalen, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
"It is one of the great conundrums of religious scholarship that holy wars not only exist but in some ways dominate the life and times of so many cults, religions, and spiritual communities in human history. . . . This good book does a stellar job of laying out the horror that some humans commit in the name of their gods. Andrea and Holt's book is a dark but necessary tale of the story of how humans justify the murder of their enemies and the defense of their territory for the sake and in name of these deities." James K. Wellman, Jr., University of Washington
"This revealing and sensitive book helps us understand why warmongers routinely abuse religion as a pretext, and why religions sometimes make adherents seek sanctification in violence." Felipe Fernndez-Armesto, University of Notre Dame

Author Bio

Alfred J. Andrea is Emeritus Professor of History, The University of Vermont, and general editor of Hackett's Critical Themes in History series. His other books with Hackett include The Medieval Record: Sources of Medieval History, Second Revised Edition, and Seven Myths of the Crusades (co-authored with Andrew Holt and part of Hackett's Myths of History series).

Andrew Holt is Associate Professor of History, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and one of the series editors, along with Alfred J. Andrea, of Hackett's Myths of History series.