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Book Cover
E-book
Author Wiśniewski, Robert, 1968- author.

Title Christian divination in late antiquity / Robert Wiśniewski ; translated by Damian Jasiński
Published Amsterdam : Amsterdam University Press, [2020]

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Description 1 online resource
Series Social worlds of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages
Social worlds of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
Contents Frontmatter -- Table of Contents -- List of Abbreviations -- List of Illustrations -- Introduction -- 1. Attitudes to Divination -- 2. Prophets -- 3. Take and Read -- 4. Books and Bones -- 5. Divinatory Lots -- 6. Interrogating Demoniacs -- 7. Incubation -- Conclusions -- Bibliography -- Index
Summary In Late Antiquity, people commonly sought to acquire knowledge about the past, the present, and the future, using a variety of methods. While early Christians did not doubt that these methods worked effectively, in theory they were not allowed to make use of them. In practice, people responded to this situation in diverse ways. Some simply renounced any hope of learning about the future, while others resorted to old practices regardless of the consequences. A third option, however, which emerged in the fourth century, was to construct divinatory methods that were effective yet religiously tolerable. This book is devoted to the study of such practices and their practitioners, and provides answers to essential questions concerning this phenomenon. How did it develop? How closely were Christian methods related to older, traditional customs? Who used them and in which situations? Who offered oracular services? And how were they treated by the clergy, intellectuals, and common people?
Analysis Late Antiquity - Divination - History of Christianity
Notes Online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on December 08, 2020)
Subject Divination -- History
Occultism -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- History of doctrines -- Early church, ca. 30-600
Christianity and culture.
Early history: c. 500 to c. 1450/1500.
History of religion.
HISTORY -- Ancient -- General.
Christianity and culture
Divination
Genre/Form History
Form Electronic book
Author Jasiński, Damian, translator.
ISBN 9789048541010
9048541018
Other Titles Wróżbiarstwo Chrześcijańskie w późnym antyku, czyli, Jak poznać przyszlość i nie utracić zbawienia. English