Sacred Violence
African Christians and Sectarian Hatred in the Age of Augustine

Employs the sectarian battles which divided African Christians in late antiquity to explore the nature of violence in religious conflicts.

Brent D. Shaw (Author)

9780521127257, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 1 September 2011

930 pages
22.7 x 15.1 x 4 cm, 1.44 kg

'Brent Shaw's study offers a compelling and meticulous history of violence for late Roman North Africa, with a focus on the 'sanctified violence' of the fourth and fifth centuries. Sacred Violence is an enormous, humane work of monumental importance for which Shaw should rightly receive many accolades. It is written with a verve and alacrity which given its length, is a remarkable achievement.' Nicholas J. Baker-Brian, The Journal of Roman Studies

One route to understanding the nature of specifically religious violence is the study of past conflicts. Distinguished ancient historian Brent D. Shaw provides a new analysis of the intense sectarian battles between the Catholic and Donatist churches of North Africa in late antiquity, in which Augustine played a central role as Bishop of Hippo. The development and deployment of images of hatred, including that of the heretic, the pagan, and the Jew, and the modes by which these were most effectively employed, including the oral world of the sermon, were critical to promoting acts of violence. Shaw explores how the emerging ecclesiastical structures of the Christian church, on one side, and those of the Roman imperial state, on the other, interacted to repress or excite violent action. Finally, the meaning and construction of the acts themselves, including the Western idea of suicide, are shown to emerge from the conflict itself.

1. This terrible custom
2. Church of the traitors
3. Poisonous brood of vipers
4. Archives of memory
5. City of denial
6. Ravens feeding on death
7. Little foxes, evil women
8. Guardians of the people
9. In the house of discipline
10. Sing a new song
11. Kings of our age
12. We choose to stand
13. Athletes of death
14. Bad boys
15. Men of blood
16. Divine winds
Appendix A. Bishops and bishoprics in Africa: the numbers
Appendix B. Origins of the division: chronology
Appendix C. The Catholic conference of 348
Appendix D. The peasant jacquerie of Axido and Fasir
Appendix E. The mission of Paul and Macarius
Appendix F. Historical fictions: interpreting the circumcellions
Appendix G. The archaeology of suicide
Appendix H. African sermons.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Church history [HRCC2], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], European history [HBJD]