Tolerance, Intolerance, and Recognition in Early Christianity and Early Judaism

This collection of essays explores signs of toleration, recognition, respect, and other positive forms of interaction between and within religious groups of late antiquity, while acknowledging that examples of tolerance are fewer in ancient sources than examples of intolerance. It analyzes the complexity of these encounters and brings the results of historical inquiry into dialogue with present-day questions of religious tolerance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 314 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2021
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

This comprehensive collection of essays delves into the intricate dynamics of tolerance, recognition, respect, and other positive forms of interaction between and within religious groups of late antiquity. While it acknowledges that instances of tolerance are relatively fewer in ancient sources compared to instances of intolerance, it also recognizes that these examples often exist within specific circles, primarily among insiders, while outsiders often face contempt or even violence. The essays approach these perspectives with utmost seriousness, employing analytical methods to unravel the complexities inherent in these encounters. Religious concerns, ethnicity, gender, and other social factors that played pivotal roles in shaping individual identities intertwined, resulting in diverse approaches to defining the boundaries of tolerance and intolerance. By examining these multifaceted factors, the book not only enhances our understanding of the formative centuries of Jewish and Christian religious traditions but also brings the insights of historical inquiry into conversation with contemporary questions of religious tolerance.

Contributions to this book come from esteemed scholars such as Ismo Dunderberg, Carmen Palmer, Michael Labahn, Nina Nikki, Anna-Liisa Rafael, Sami Yli-Karjanmaa, Galit Hasan-Rokem & Israel Yuval, Paul Middleton, Outi Lehtipuu, Elizabeth Dowling, and Amy-Jill Levine. Their insights and perspectives contribute to a rich and multifaceted exploration of the topic at hand.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462984462