Paul in Ecstasy
The Neurobiology of the Apostle's Life and Thought
- Author: Colleen Shantz, University of St Michael's College, Toronto and Toronto School of Theology
- Date Published: June 2009
- availability: Available
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521866101
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While many readers of Paul's letters recognize how important his experience was to his life and thought, Biblical scholars have not generally addressed this topic head-on. Colleen Shantz argues that they have been held back both by a bias against religious ecstasy and by the limits of the Biblical texts: how do you responsibly access someone else's experience, particularly experience as unusual and debated as religious ecstasy? And how do you account responsibly for the role of experience in that person's thought? Paul in Ecstasy pursues these questions through a variety of disciplines - most notably neuroscience. This study provides cogent explanations for bewildering passages in Paul's letters, outlines a much greater influence of such experience in Paul's life and letters, and points to its importance in Christian origins.
Read more- Combines 'hard science' with Biblical exegesis
- Has implications for Biblical specialists in understanding both particular biblical passages and Pauline studies
- Brings biblical studies into current conversation with broader cultural interests in religion
Awards
- Winner of the 2010 Frank W. Beare Award
Reviews & endorsements
'Paul in Ecstasy is highly original. It contains a compelling analysis of the prejudices against the themes of ecstasy, mysticism, enthusiasm, and charismatic experiences in mainstream scholarship and a very solid account of neurological research. The latter is by itself worth the price of the book.' Robert Jewett, Guest Professor of New Testament, University of Heidelberg and Part-time Professor of Biblical and Historical Studies, University of Wales Lampeter
See more reviews'Shantz's methodical and disciplined application of insights from cognitive neuroscience to the interpretation of Paul's ecstatic experiences is insightful, balanced, and thorough. It takes a deserved place among similar contemporary studies of Paul and other biblical personalities such as Enoch, Ezekiel, and John. Her lucid and elegant style makes the application of complex scientific concepts to the interpretation of Paul easily accessible and pleasurable to read even for those entirely unfamiliar with or skeptical of this approach.' John J. Pilch, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
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×Product details
- Date Published: June 2009
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521866101
- length: 278 pages
- dimensions: 229 x 152 x 20 mm
- weight: 0.5kg
- contains: 2 b/w illus. 1 table
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. What ecstasy?: an assessment of the misregard
2. Paul's brain: the cognitive neurology of ecstasy
3. Paul's voice: parsing Paul's ecstatic discourse
4. Paul's practice: discerning ecstasies in practice
5. The whole Paul: a short course in (non-deterministic) complexity.
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