Beard Theology: A holy history of hairy faces

This book explores the religious significance of beards throughout history, from ancient civilizations to the early Church fathers and the protestant reformers of the 19th century. It contains entertaining true historical stories and provides a subtle basis for reflection on current theological disputes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 08 August 2019
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Beards have held cultural and religious significance for thousands of years, with a fascinating story to be told of their religious importance from ancient civilizations to today. This book will explore beard theology from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Mesopotamia to the Jews of Jesus's day and the early Church fathers who strongly promoted the beard. It will also explore the protestant reformers and leaders of the evangelical revival of the 19th century, who had plenty to say about the beard.

This largely untold and intriguing story of the religious significance of beards will contain a series of entertaining true historical stories, such as the cardinal who lost the papacy due to his beard, the female pharaoh who wore a fake beard, and how beards were cited in the papal bull of excommunication that formalized the split of the Eastern and Western churches in the Great Schism.

As well as providing a unique historical narrative, this book also provides a subtle basis for reflection on current theological disputes and debates, gently inviting readers to consider what parallels there are to the historical theological disputes that caused heated passions in their day. It will entertain and inform in equal measure.

A profound exploration of the way beliefs turn to rules, this book is smart, funny, and absolutely fascinating. Cole Moreton praised it as a "profound exploration of the way beliefs turn to rules."

Weight: 256g
Dimension: 200 x 136 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529318630