...Christian and leaders defined the concept topographical holy space, not only in Palestine and Egypt but elsewhere in the apostolic world, and debated whether journeying to holy places was essential not only for the development of a Christian's faith but also for his or her salvation. To what degree, if any, was seeing and possibly touching the relics of holy men and women (often hermits), the tombs and remains of martyrs and apostles, and especially the holy places of the life of Jesus--such as the holy Cave of the Resurrection, Golgotha, and the site of the Ascension in Palestine--necessary for a Christian's salvation? Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony in this insightful book provides a new answer to this complex question. Her response involves refuting a current scholarly belief that the uneducated populace generally were the pilgrims in late antiquity to holy places, while educated Christians, including churchmen and women, generally eschewed pilgrimage. In her words, "a simple assumption of a dichotomy between popular and elite religion in late antiquity is no longer possible" (2).

It is no longer possible because Professor Bitton-Ashkelony nicely, persuasively, shows that Patristic writers such as Origin and Augustine did not divide Christians into these two classes as regards the phenomenon of pilgrimage. Nor was there a difference between the Eastern and Western Catholic Church in this respect. The actual tension was "between local sites of pilgrimage on the one hand and Jerusalem on...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



More articles from Christianity and Literature
Demons and the Making of the Monk: Spiritual Combat in Early Christian..., January 01, 2008
Early American Women Critics: Performance, Religion, Race.(Book review..., January 01, 2008
Mark Twain and the Spiritual Crisis of His Age.(Book review), January 01, 2008
Sin and Evil: Moral Values in Literature.(Book review), January 01, 2008
C. S. Lewis, Collected Letters: Volume III, Narnia, Cambridge and Joy,..., January 01, 2008

Looking for additional articles?
Search our database of over 3 million articles.

Looking for more in-depth information on this industry?
Search our complete database of Industry & Market reports by text, subject, publication name or publication date.

About Goliath
Whether you're looking for sales prospects, competitive information, company analysis or best practices in managing your organization, Goliath can help you meet your business needs.

Our extensive business information databases empower business professionals with both the breadth and depth of credible, authoritative information they need to support their business goals. Whether it be strategic planning, sales prospecting, company research or defining management best practices - Goliath is your leading source for accurate information.