- Table View
- List View
ROMA Y JERUSALEM (EBOOK)
by J. SchvindlermanLa relación entre cristianos y judíos tuvo mal comienzo y peor desarrollo. Julián Schvindlerman revela el modo en que durante siglos, los Padres de la Iglesia han demonizado a los judíos de una manera tan feroz y consistente que, para cuando seis millones de ellos fueron exterminados por los nazis durante la primera mitad del siglo XX, muchos vieron allí un desenlace lógico. A partir de entonces, el Papado revisó su actitud hacia el pueblo judío, encontrándose en el Concilio Vaticano II (1962-1965) la manifestación más acabada de esta nueva visión. Desde finales del siglo XIX y a lo largo del siglo pasado, la idea de un estado judío, primero, y el establecimiento del Estado de Israel, después, crearon un desafío político, teológico y psicológico para el Vaticano. La respuesta de la Santa Sede a estos monumentales desarrollos de la historia moderna es narrada en estás páginas impecablemente documentadas, ofreciendo al lector la oportunidad de sumergirse en un tema cautivante y de enorme actualidad.
Roman Catholic Church - Simple Guides
by Edmund HartleyTHIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU* to appreciate the significance of one of the largest organized religions in the world* to understand the history of the Church, and what it means to be Roman Catholic* to recognize the Catholic Church's key practices and beliefs* to avoid faux pas in conversation, in traveling and in personal relationshipsThe Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world. Although it has evolved over time and spread to every continent, its belief, structure and liturgy date back to the one Church founded by Christ. This personal introduction by an English priest, whose experience includes many years of service with the British army, is offered as one man's guide to the origins and practices of Catholic Christianity.The book considers the Jewish roots and historical context of Christianity. It traces the evolution of thought that culminated in the message of its founder, and the impact of Jesus' teachings on his followers. It recounts the history of the early Church, its aims and beliefs, and the formulation by the Church Fathers and the great ecumenical councils of answers to questions of faith, morals and teachings. Thematic chapters deal with the topics of faith and reason, how to recognize truth, authority, myth, the question of sin, judgement and deliverance, and the meaning of the sacraments. Others deal with historical events, changing attitudes, religious practices, institutional structures and sacred texts.Written in an informal and friendly style, this guide is the perfect introduction to a rich, complex and profoundly influential system of belief.ACCESS THE WORLD'S RELIGIONSSimple Guides: Religion is a series of concise, accessible introductions to the world's major religions. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs and practices of different faiths.Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world's great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs and beliefs of differentsocieties, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
by Mary Ann KnochelFormally established in 1843, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh traces its history back to April 1754, when the first Eucharistic Liturgy was celebrated within what is now Pittsburgh. Franciscan friar Denys Baron established the first Catholic house of worship in this part of the world and dedicated it in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He constructed his small parish at the forks of the Ohio River, and from his meticulous records of baptisms, births, and deaths, there is evidence that he ministered not only to the soldiers of Fort Duquesne, but to people of Native American, Irish, and English descent as well. Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh illustrates how the seeds planted by this first humble faith community grew a rich Catholic tradition nurtured by ©migr©s from myriad European countries, who brought with them traditions and an unwavering faith that has enriched the southwestern area of Pennsylvania for more than 250 years.
Roman Catholic Modernists Confront the Great War
by C. J. T. Talar Lawrence F. BarmannAt the start of the 20th century, there emerged a confrontation between optimistic faith in ongoing progress that was characteristic of Roman Catholic Modernism (1890 - 1914) and a bleaker mentality produced by the horror and death wrought the Great War. All of this together led to material devastation and a loss of cultural patrimony that was acutely felt by many of those who had invested efforts in ecclesiastical and social reform. Questions thus naturally arise: how did those who were confronted by the death and suffering of the war, in some cases very directly, reconcile their experiences with their modernist faith? How did they deal with the massive counterfactual of the Great War to religious beliefs that had looked to a future filed with promise? They had aspired to embrace modernity; how did they react when that embrace turned so deadly? These are the questions this book seeks to address.
Roman Catholicism (Routledge Revivals)
by Thomas CorbishleyFirst published in 1950 Roman Catholicism is an attempt on the part of a Roman Catholic to state what he conceives to be the nature and function of the Church to which he belongs. Those who read the book are asked to believe that what it contains is set down in all sincerity and honesty. The book brings themes like function and unity of the Roman Catholic Church; Roman Catholic theology; moral and social teaching; Roman Catholicism and human history; link between Roman Catholicism and modern situation; and Catholic life and practice. This book is essential for scholars and researchers of Christianity, Catholicism, and religion in general.
Roman Catholicism: Basics (The Basics)
by Michael WalshFrom the most basic terms to the structures and practices of the Church, this book offers a plain-speaking introduction to Roman Catholicism. Now in a second edition, it contains new sections on relations with other faiths, coverage of recent controversies in the Church and an expanded section on social teaching. It covers: Roman Catholic beliefs and traditions practices and devotional life – rituals, prayer, mass Church structures and authorities – from Vatican to parish church Church hierarchies and people – from bishops to the laity the role of the Church in society. With a glossary, further reading sections and reference to official documents of the Church, this is the perfect guide for students approaching the study of Roman Catholicism for the first time.
Roman Catholicism in America: A Thematic History (Columbia Contemporary American Religion Series)
by Chester GillisWho are American Catholics and what do they believe and practice? How has American Catholicism influenced and been influenced by American culture and society? This book examines the history of American Catholics from the colonial era to the present, with an emphasis on changes and challenges in the contemporary church.Chester Gillis chronicles America Catholics: where they have come from, how they have integrated into American society, and how the church has influenced their lives. He highlights key events and people, examines data on Catholics and their relationship to the church, and considers the church’s positions and actions on politics, education, and gender and sexuality in the context of its history and doctrines.This second edition of Roman Catholicism in America pays particular attention to the tumultuous past twenty years and points toward the future of the religion in the United States. It examines the unprecedented crisis of sexual abuse by priests—the legal, moral, financial, and institutional repercussions of which continue to this day—and the bishops’ role in it. Gillis also discusses the election of Pope Francis and the controversial role Catholic leadership has played in American politics.
Roman Catholicism in the United States: A Thematic History (Catholic Practice in North America)
by Patrick Allitt Timothy Matovina James T. Fisher Anthony Smith Chester Gillis Margaret M. McGuinness Jeffrey M. Burns Roy Domenico Una Cadegan Christopher S. Shannon James McCartin Jeffrey Marlett Robert Carbonneau Cecilia Moore Karen DavalosRoman Catholicism in the United States: A Thematic History takes the reader beyond the traditional ways scholars have viewed and recounted the story of the Catholic Church in America. The collection covers unfamiliar topics such as anti-Catholicism, rural Catholicism, Latino Catholics, and issues related to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the U.S. government. The book continues with fascinating discussions on popular culture (film and literature), women religious, and the work of U.S. missionaries in other countries. The final section of the books is devoted to Catholic social teaching, tackling challenging and sometimes controversial subjects such as the relationship between African American Catholics and the Communist Party, Catholics in the civil rights movement, the abortion debate, issues of war and peace, and Vatican II and the American Catholic Church.Roman Catholicism in the United States examines the history of U.S. Catholicism from a variety of perspectives that transcend the familiar account of the immigrant, urban parish, which served as the focus for so many American Catholics during the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries.
Roman Catholics And Evangelicals: Agreements And Differences
by Norman L. Geisler Ralph E. MacKenzieThis comparative study shows that Protestants and Catholics are not as separated theologically as they may think. An excellent reference tool or textbook.
Roman Catholics and Shi'i Muslims
by James A. Bill John Alden Williamsi" -->This timely work explores two influential religious traditions that might seem to have little in common: Twelver Shi'i Islam and Roman Catholicism. With the worldwide rise of religious fundamentalism, it is imperative that religious movements such as Christianity and Islam begin working harder to understand one another's history and beliefs. Myths and misunderstandings continue to prevail, and observers tend to focus on the differences between the two faith systems. Without denying these differences, the authors of this book reveal a number of interesting linkages between Roman Catholicism and Twelver Shi'ism. They compare the histories of the two faiths, consider parallels between important figures in each, and highlight the doctrinal, structural, and sociopolitical similarities they share. Balanced in tone and carefully researched, the book helps explain the essence of both traditions while enriching our understanding of each.There are an estimated 140 million Twelver Shi'is in the world today. The highest percentages live in Persian Gulf countries, including Iran and Iraq, and in Azerbaijan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. Sizable numbers also inhabit Pakistan, India, and Turkey. The largest Christian denomination, Roman Catholicism is present across the globe, though its population of more than one billion people is concentrated in North and South America and in Europe."At once probing, sympathetic, learned, and insightful. . . . A trustworthy and timely work that will reward frequent use by anyone interested in the shape and future of religion in the modern world.--Middle East Insight"Such a timely perspective could save the zealots on both sides, at least from themselves.--Times Literary Supplement"A book that should be widely read and discussed. . . . [A] fascinating study. May it be granted the reception in popular as well as international academic circles that it richly deserves.--Middle East Policy"Each chapter is loaded with stimulating gems.--Publishers WeeklyThis comparative look at Roman Catholicism and Twelver Shi'i Islam focuses on the linkages between these two religions rather than on the seemingly intractable differences between them. The authors compare the histories of the two faiths, consider parallels between important figures in each, and highlight the doctrinal, structural, and sociopolitical similarities they share. Balanced in tone and carefully researched, the book helps explain the essence of both traditions while enriching our understanding of each.-->
The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries
by Manfred ClaussFirst published in 2001. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
The Roman Empire (Religion & Classical Warfare)
by Matthew Dillon & Christopher MatthewReligion was integral to the conduct of war in the ancient world and the Romans were certainly no exception. No campaign was undertaken, no battle risked, without first making sacrifice to propitiate the appropriate gods (such as Mars, god of War) or consulting oracles and omens to divine their plans. Yet the link between war and religion is an area that has been regularly overlooked by modern scholars examining the conflicts of these times. This volume addresses that omission by drawing together the work of experts from across the globe. The chapters have been carefully structured by the editors so that this wide array of scholarship combines to give a coherent, comprehensive study of the role of religion in the wars of the Roman Empire. Aspects considered in depth include: the Imperial cults and legionary loyalty; the army and religious/regional disputes; Trajan and religion; Constantine and Christianity; omens and portents; funerary cults and practices; the cult of Mithras; the Imperial sacramentum; religion & Imperial military medicine.
The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide
by Warren CarterAn indispensable introduction to Roman society, culture, law, politics, religion, and daily life as they relate to the study of the New Testament. The Roman Empire formed the central context in which the New Testament was written. Anyone who wishes to understand the New Testament texts must become familiar with the political, economic, societal, cultural, and religious aspects of Roman rule. Much of the New Testament deals with enabling its readers to negotiate, in an array of different manners, this pervasive imperial context. This book will help the reader see how social structures and daily practices in the Roman world illumine so much of the content of the New Testament message. For example, to grasp what Paul was saying about food offered to idols one must understand that temples in the Roman world were not "churches," and that they functioned as political, economic, and gastronomic centers, whose religious dealings were embedded within these other functions. Brief in presentation yet broad in scope, The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide will introduce students to the information and ideas essential to coming to grips with the world in which early Christianity was born.
The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide (Abingdon Essential Guides Ser.)
by Warren CarterAn indispensable introduction to Roman society, culture, law, politics, religion, and daily life as they relate to the study of the New Testament.The Roman Empire formed the central context in which the New Testament was written. Anyone who wishes to understand the New Testament texts must become familiar with the political, economic, societal, cultural, and religious aspects of Roman rule. Much of the New Testament deals with enabling its readers to negotiate, in an array of different manners, this pervasive imperial context. This book will help the reader see how social structures and daily practices in the Roman world illumine so much of the content of the New Testament message. For example, to grasp what Paul was saying about food offered to idols one must understand that temples in the Roman world were not "churches," and that they functioned as political, economic, and gastronomic centers, whose religious dealings were embedded within these other functions.Brief in presentation yet broad in scope, The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide will introduce students to the information and ideas essential to coming to grips with the world in which early Christianity was born.
The Roman Goddess Ceres
by Barbette Stanley SpaethA thematic study of the Roman goddess of agriculture as represented in ancient culture from the prehistoric period to the Late Roman Empire.Interest in goddess worship is growing in contemporary society, as women seek models for feminine spirituality and wholeness. New cults are developing around ancient goddesses from many cultures, although their modern adherents often envision and interpret the goddesses very differently than their original worshippers did.In this thematic study of the Roman goddess Ceres, Barbette Spaeth explores the rich complexity of meanings and functions that grew up around the goddess from the prehistoric period to the Late Roman Empire. In particular, she examines two major concepts, fertility and liminality, and two social categories, the plebs and women, which were inextricably linked with Ceres in the Roman mind. Spaeth then analyzes an image of the goddess in a relief of the Ara Pacis, an important state monument of the Augustan period, showing how it incorporates all these varied roles and associations of Ceres. This interpretation represents a new contribution to art history. With its use of literary, epigraphical, numismatic, artistic, and archaeological evidence, The Roman Goddess Ceres presents a more encompassing view of the goddess than was previously available. It will be important reading for all students of Classics, as well as for a general audience interested in New Age, feminist, or pagan spirituality.
Roman Identity from the Arab Conquests to the Triumph of Orthodoxy (New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture)
by Douglas WhalinThis book asks how the inhabitants and neighbours of the Eastern Roman Empire understand their identity as Romans in the centuries following the emergence of Islam as a world-religion. Its answers lie in exploring the nature of change and continuity of social structures, self-representation, and boundaries as markers of belonging to the Roman group in the period from circa AD 650 to 850. Early medieval Romanness was integral to the Roman imperial project; its local utility as an identifier was shaped by a given community’s relationship with Constantinople, the capital of the Roman state. This volume argues that there was fundamental continuity of Roman identity from Late Antiquity through these centuries into later periods. Many transformations which are ascribed to the Romans of this era have been subjectively assigned by outsiders, separated by time or space, and are not born out by the sources. This finding dovetails with other recent historical works re-evaluating the early medieval Eastern Roman polity and its ideology.
The Roman Inquisition: A Papal Bureaucracy and Its Laws in the Age of Galileo
by Thomas F. MayerWhile the Spanish Inquisition has laid the greatest claim to both scholarly attention and the popular imagination, the Roman Inquisition, established in 1542 and a key instrument of papal authority, was more powerful, important, and long-lived. Founded by Paul III and originally aimed to eradicate Protestant heresy, it followed medieval antecedents but went beyond them by becoming a highly articulated centralized organ directly dependent on the pope. By the late sixteenth century the Roman Inquisition had developed its own distinctive procedures, legal process, and personnel, the congregation of cardinals and a professional staff. Its legal process grew out of the technique of inquisitio formulated by Innocent III in the early thirteenth century, it became the most precocious papal bureaucracy on the road to the first "absolutist" state.As Thomas F. Mayer demonstrates, the Inquisition underwent constant modification as it expanded. The new institution modeled its case management and other procedures on those of another medieval ancestor, the Roman supreme court, the Rota. With unparalleled attention to archival sources and detail, Mayer portrays a highly articulated corporate bureaucracy with the pope at its head. He profiles the Cardinal Inquisitors, including those who would play a major role in Galileo's trials, and details their social and geographical origins, their education, economic status, earlier careers in the Church, and networks of patronage. At the point this study ends, circa 1640, Pope Urban VIII had made the Roman Inquisition his personal instrument and dominated it to a degree none of his predecessors had approached.
The Roman Inquisition
by Thomas F. MayerWhile the Spanish Inquisition has laid the greatest claim to both scholarly attention and the popular imagination, the Roman Inquisition, established in 1542 and a key instrument of papal authority, was more powerful, important, and long-lived. Founded by Paul III and originally aimed to eradicate Protestant heresy, it followed medieval antecedents but went beyond them by becoming a highly articulated centralized organ directly dependent on the pope. By the late sixteenth century the Roman Inquisition had developed its own distinctive procedures, legal process, and personnel, the congregation of cardinals and a professional staff. Its legal process grew out of the technique of inquisitio formulated by Innocent III in the early thirteenth century, it became the most precocious papal bureaucracy on the road to the first "absolutist" state.As Thomas F. Mayer demonstrates, the Inquisition underwent constant modification as it expanded. The new institution modeled its case management and other procedures on those of another medieval ancestor, the Roman supreme court, the Rota. With unparalleled attention to archival sources and detail, Mayer portrays a highly articulated corporate bureaucracy with the pope at its head. He profiles the Cardinal Inquisitors, including those who would play a major role in Galileo's trials, and details their social and geographical origins, their education, economic status, earlier careers in the Church, and networks of patronage. At the point this study ends, circa 1640, Pope Urban VIII had made the Roman Inquisition his personal instrument and dominated it to a degree none of his predecessors had approached.
The Roman Mass: From Early Christian Origins to Tridentine Reform
by Uwe Michael LangThis volume offers a new, synthetic overview of the structure and ritual shape of the Roman Mass from its formative period in late antiquity to its post-Tridentine standarisation. Starting with the Last Supper and the origins of the Eucharist, Uwe Michael Lang constructs a narrative that explores the intense religious, social, and cultural transformations that shaped the Roman Mass. Lang unites classical liturgical history with insights from a variety of other disciplines that have drawn attention to the ritual performance and reception of the mass. He also presents liturgical developments within the broader historical and theological contexts that affected the celebration and experience of the sacramental rite that is still at the heart of Catholic Christianity. Aimed at scholars from a broad swathe of subjects, including religious studies, history, art history, literature, and music, Lang's volume serves as a comprehensive history of the Roman Mass over the course of a millenium.
The Roman Monster: An Icon of the Papal Antichrist In Reformation Polemics (Early Modern Studies #13)
by Lawrence BuckIn December 1495 the Tiber River flooded the city of Rome causing extensive drowning and destruction. When the water finally receded, a rumor began to circulate that a grotesque monstrosity had been discovered in the muddy detritus—the Roman monster. The creature itself is inherently fascinating, consisting of an eclectic combination of human and animal body parts. The symbolism of these elements, the interpretations that religious controversialists read into them, and the history of the image itself, help to document antipapal polemics from fifteenth-century Rome to the Elizabethan religious settlement.This study examines the iconography of the image of the Roman monster and offers ideological reasons for associating the image with the pre-Reformation Waldensians and Bohemian Brethren. It accounts for the reproduction and survival of the monster's image in fifteenth-century Bohemia and provides historical background on the topos of the papal Antichrist, a concept that Philip Melanchthon associated with the monster. It contextualizes Melanchthon’s tract, "The Pope-Ass Explained," within the first five years of the Lutheran movement, and it documents the popularity of the Roman monster within the polemical and apocalyptic writings of the Reformation.This is a careful examination and interpretation of all relevant primary documents and secondary historical literature in telling the story of the origins and impact of the most famous monstrous portent of the Reformation era.
The Roman Monster: An Icon of the Papal Antichrist In Reformation Polemics (Early Modern Studies)
by Lawrence BuckIn December 1495 the Tiber River flooded the city of Rome causing extensive drowning and destruction. When the water finally receded, a rumor began to circulate that a grotesque monstrosity had been discovered in the muddy detritus—the Roman monster. The creature itself is inherently fascinating, consisting of an eclectic combination of human and animal body parts. The symbolism of these elements, the interpretations that religious controversialists read into them, and the history of the image itself, help to document antipapal polemics from fifteenth-century Rome to the Elizabethan religious settlement.This study examines the iconography of the image of the Roman monster and offers ideological reasons for associating the image with the pre-Reformation Waldensians and Bohemian Brethren. It accounts for the reproduction and survival of the monster's image in fifteenth-century Bohemia and provides historical background on the topos of the papal Antichrist, a concept that Philip Melanchthon associated with the monster. It contextualizes Melanchthon’s tract, “The Pope-Ass Explained,” within the first five years of the Lutheran movement, and it documents the popularity of the Roman monster within the polemical and apocalyptic writings of the Reformation.This is a careful examination and interpretation of all relevant primary documents and secondary historical literature in telling the story of the origins and impact of the most famous monstrous portent of the Reformation era.
Roman Mosaics: Over 60 Full-Color Images from the 4th Through the 13th Centuries
by Joseph WilpertIn many of the Italian Christian churches in the vicinity of Rome, mosaics were an important aspect of decoration. This full-color collection includes some of the finest examples of those mosaics.Filled with scenes taken directly from biblical myth and literature, the book spotlights more than sixty mosaic masterpieces created by Italian craftsmen from the fourth through the thirteenth centuries. A third of the images are from the Old Testament, illustrating such stories as Abraham and the angels, Jacob and Rachel, Moses and the burning bush, Pharaoh's army drowning in the Red Sea, and Joshua and the battle of Jericho. Most of the remaining mosaics feature New Testament themes or characters: the birth of Jesus, calling for apostles, multiplying the loaves and fishes, and more. Roman Mosaics is a magnificent book for browsing through, and will appeal to art historians, mosaic artists, and religious scholars.
Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches
by George WeigelIn recent decades, Americans in Rome have revived an ancient Christian custom: the daily pilgrimage to dozens of RomeOCOs most striking churches during Lent and Easter Week. Along this historical and spiritual pathway, pilgrims encounter hidden artistic wonders and treasured Christian commentaries, while also confronting the great mysteries of the Christian faith through a program of biblical and early Christian readings. The itinerary of the Roman station church pilgrimage offers Christians an opportunity to reflect on their religion and ponder the quality of their discipleship. In "Roman Pilgrimage," best-selling theologian George Weigel, art historian Elizabeth Lev, and photographer Stephen Weigel guide readers along this religious and aesthetic journey with gorgeous photographs and revealing essays on the pilgrimageOCOs art, architecture, and liturgies. A reminder of the call for renewal and conversion during each Lenten season, "Roman Pilgrimage" reflects on the deepest truths of Christianity and the exquisite beauty of the station churches of Rome. "
Roman Religion
by Valerie M. WarriorExamining sites that are familiar to many modern tourists, Valerie Warrior avoids imposing a modern perspective on the topic by using the testimony of the ancient Romans to describe traditional Roman religion. The ancient testimony recreates the social and historical contexts in which Roman religion was practised. It shows, for example, how, when confronted with a foreign cult, official traditional religion accepted the new cult with suitable modifications. Basic difficulties, however, arose with regard to the monotheism of the Jews and Christianity. Carefully integrated with the text are visual representations of divination, prayer, and sacrifice as depicted on monuments, coins, and inscriptions from public buildings and homes throughout the Roman world. Also included are epitaphs and humble votive offerings that illustrate the piety of individuals, and that reveal the prevalence of magic and the occult in the spiritual lives of the ancient Romans.
The Roman Republic (Religion & Classical Warfare)
by Matthew Dillon Christopher MatthewEssays exploring the role religion played in ancient Roman warfare, including destroying enemies’ gods, wartime ceremonies, and live burials.Religion was integral to the conduct of war in the ancient world and the Romans were certainly no exception. No campaign was undertaken, no battle risked, without first making sacrifice to propitiate the appropriate gods (such as Mars, god of War) or consulting oracles and omens to divine their plans. Yet the link between war and religion is an area that has been regularly overlooked by modern scholars examining the conflicts of these times. This volume addresses that omission by drawing together the work of experts from across the globe. The chapters have been carefully structured by the editors so that this wide array of scholarship combines to give a coherent, comprehensive study of the role of religion in the wars of the Roman Republic.Aspects considered in depth will include: declarations of war; evocation and taking gods away from enemies; dedications and ceremonies; the cult of the legionary eagle; the role of women in Republican warfare; omens and divination; live burials of people in times of military crisis; and the rituals of the Roman triumph.PraiseReligion & Classical Warfare: The Roman Republic“The authors take a novel approach in looking at military history of the Roman Republic in terms of the relationship between warriors and religion. The ancient world was driven to a high degree by religious belief, even to the point of commanders relying on seers to advise them on the eve of battle.—Very Highly Recommended.” —Firetrench “A work of meticulous and detailed scholarship.” —Midwest Book Review