Rethinking Christian Martyrdom: The Blood or the Seed?

The book argues that Christianity's key to understanding the "Christian" martyr is mistaken and that martyrdom is not a socio-historical phenomenon inherent to particular ideologies but rather the institutional co-optation of violence. It sheds new light on the motivations of martyrs, our fascination with them, and the parasitic relationship of religion to violent death.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This book challenges the widely held belief that Christianity is the key to understanding the "Christian" martyr. Examining martyrdom in early Christian history, Matt Recla argues that the violent deaths of martyrs, both real and imagined, were appropriated for Christian institutional life. Through deconstructing martyrdom and appreciating the complexity of the martyr, we recognize martyrdom not as a socio-historical phenomenon inherent to particular ideologies, but as the institutional co-optation of violence. The Christian apologist Tertullian argued that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church, but while the seed may be the key to martyrdom, the blood is the key to the martyr. The book shows how martyrs exceed the bounds of institutional narrative. Centering analysis of martyrdom first around the martyrs' existential difference and the complex biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors that lead to willing death, this book sheds new light on the motivations of martyrs, our fascination with them, and the parasitic relationship of religion to violent death. In challenging long-held beliefs about the praiseworthiness of martyrdom, this book is of interest to scholars of religion as well as those concerned about the relationship between religion and violence.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350184299