Constructing Religious Martyrdom

Martyrdom is a phenomenon common to many of the world's religious traditions. But why? In this study, John Soboslai offers insights into the practices of self-sacrifice within specific sociopolitical contexts. Providing a new understanding of martyrdom through the lens of political theology, he analyzes discourses and performances in four religious traditions during social and political crises, beginning with second-century Christianity in Asia Minor, where the term 'martyr' first took its meaning. He also analyzes Shi'a Islam in the 1980s, when 'suicide bombing' first appeared as a strategy in West Asia; global Sikhism during World War I, where martyrs stood for and against the British Raj; and twenty-first-century Tibetan Buddhism, where self-immolators used their bodies in opposition to the programs of the People's Republic of China. Presenting a new theory of martyrdom linked to constructions of sovereign authority, Soboslai reveals common features of self-sacrifice and demonstrates how bodily performances buttress conceptions of authority.

Auteur

John Soboslai is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Montclair State University. He is the coauthor of God in the Tumult of the Global Square and Project Director of Immersive Religion, which creates virtual reality experiences of religious rituals, and which is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Texte du rabat

"This diverse study offers insights into practices of martyrdom within specific socio-political contexts. Analyzing martyrdom through political theology, John Soboslai examines self-sacrifice in four religious traditions during social and political crises, from second century Christianity in Asia Minor to 21st century Tibetan Buddhism"--

Contenu

1. Introduction: concerning martyrdom; 2. Executed martyrs in second century Christianity; 3. The human bombs of twentieth century Shi'i Islam; 4. Sikh martyr imaginaries in the early twentieth century; 5. The martyrdom of twenty-first century Tibetan self-immolators; 6. Performances of suffering: The drama of martyrdom; 7. Witnesses to a sovereign imaginary; Conclusion: The witness of martyrdom; Epilogue; Bibliography; Endnotes; Index.