Contesting Christendom: Readings in Medieval Religion and Culture

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The pervasiveness of the Christian religion has long been treated as one of the key features of medieval society. Indeed, Europe in the Middle Ages is often described simply as a Christian culture. Yet what do we mean when we say that medieval Europe was a Christian society, and what did it mean to be a Christian in the Middle Ages These questions are fundamental to any understanding of the Middle Ages, yet the variety of theoretical approaches and conclusions represented in this carefully selected and provocative collection of key works in the field highlights the complexity of the answers.

Introducing students to medieval Christianity, James L. Halverson presents a rich array of readings that offers a variety of ways to study the history of religion within a chronological setting. His opening chapter and introductions to each section and selection frame the essays and provide a strong conceptual framework to build upon. Making it clear that scholars have approached religion from many perspectives and used many different methodologies, this collection presents some of the best scholarship of religion as culture and practice, emphasizing the ongoing attempt to understand the social and cultural aspects of medieval Christianity.

Contributions by: Rudolf Bell, Constance Brittain Bouchard, Peter Brown, Marcus Bull, Caroline Walker Bynum, Mark R. Cohen, Georges Duby, Eamon Duffy, Joan Ferrante, Richard Fletcher, Katherine L. French, Thomas A. Fudge, Herbert Grundmann, James L. Halverson, Karen Louise Jolly, Lester Little, Rob Means, Bernd Moeller, Andrew P. Roach, Jane Tibbets Schulenburg, Keith Thomas, and Ian Wood.

Reviews

Twenty-two well-written and informative essays. * Sixteenth Century Journal *
Halverson has assembled a wonderful set of readings on the changing nature of medieval Christendom. The selections chosen here reflect old and new approaches and the ongoing work of scholars to questions about what made the Middle Ages Christian, or whether they were Christian at all. Halverson is sensitive to change over time, and also to changing methodologies and angles of approach. I imagine readers coming away with a much richer sense of the debatesstill current!surrounding Europe's religious inheritance. -- John Van Engen, University of Notre Dame
Demonstrating the various ways in which Christianity shaped medieval culture, this book will be warmly embraced in many medieval European history classrooms as well as in courses on medieval Christianity. Because the readings deal with religion from social and cultural perspectives, it will be valuable even in courses that are not specifically focused on religion. -- Deanna Klepper, Boston University

Author Bio

James L. Halverson is professor of history and chair of social sciences at Judson College.