Martyrdom: Self-Denial or Self-Exaltation? Motives for Self-Sacrifice from Homer to Polycarp a Theological Reflection

This article explores the theological understandings of martyrdom in the second century and how they might serve as a response to Nietzsche's critique that Christian martyrdom is not self-abnegation but a self-deluded assertion of the will to power. In reply to this objection, the article focus...

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Autore principale: Smith, J. Warren 1964- (Autore)
Tipo di documento: Elettronico Articolo
Lingua:Inglese
Verificare la disponibilità: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Pubblicazione: 2006
In: Modern theology
Anno: 2006, Volume: 22, Fascicolo: 2, Pagine: 169-196
Accesso online: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Edizione parallela:Non elettronico
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Riepilogo:This article explores the theological understandings of martyrdom in the second century and how they might serve as a response to Nietzsche's critique that Christian martyrdom is not self-abnegation but a self-deluded assertion of the will to power. In reply to this objection, the article focuses on the early church's self-conscious concern for the proper and improper forms of martyrdom as depicted in the Martyrdom of Polycarp. By contrasting the depiction of Polycarp's martyrdom "according to the gospel" with classical views of self-sacrifice in Homer's Iliad and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, it will show how martyrdom, contra Nietzsche, can be an act of true self-denial.
ISSN:1468-0025
Comprende:Enthalten in: Modern theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0025.2006.00314.x