TRS 329 Martyrdom in the Christian Traditions, Antiquity to the Present
Early Christianity inherited and embraced the developing understanding of martyrdom - witness under persecution - from Second Temple Judaism. But since the second century, martyrdom has been understood to be at the center of Christian devotion, and the martyr has been seen as the site of significant power: power to understand divine mysteries, to perform stunning acts of bravery in defiance of state power or invisible adversaries, and to overcome perceptions of female weakness in leading other Christians to the act of witness. This course traces various Christian interpretations of martyrdom from the first century to the present. Its chronological focus allows for attention to the ongoing Jewish tradition of sacrificial suffering, and the incorporation of the discourse of martyrdom into Islam. The course concentrates on primary texts in translation, with attention to scholarly discussion.