Pagan Survivals, Superstitions and Popular Cultures in Early Medieval Pastoral Literature
By Bernadette Filotas
Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2005
ISBN: 978–0–88844–151–5
This study explores early medieval popular culture as it appeared in ecclesiastical and secular law, sermons, penitentials, and other pastoral works – a selective but illuminating record of the beliefs and practices of ordinary Christians from circa 500 to 1000 AD
Review by James Bugslag from The Medieval Review: “This book offers far more than one might expect from the title. The topic of “pagan survivals, superstitions and popular cultures” is open to a wide range of interpretations. It is a subject area as much of interest to New Age proponents of Wicca as it is to the professional medievalists who constitute the author’s intended audience. Studies on medieval topics as varied as rural social relations, holy wells, the benandanti , heresy, pilgrimage, and magic commonly invoke aspects of an “alternative” worldview that can be elusive to the many non-specialists interested in this material.”
Review from Michael D. Bailey from Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft: “This is a broad and deeply researched study, but also a carefully limited one. Bernadette Filotas wants to examine popular religion and culture across five centuries, from roughly 500 to 1000, or, as she neatly puts it, from the episcopacy of Caesarius of Arles to that of Burchard of Worms.”
By Bernadette Filotas
Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2005
ISBN: 978–0–88844–151–5
This study explores early medieval popular culture as it appeared in ecclesiastical and secular law, sermons, penitentials, and other pastoral works – a selective but illuminating record of the beliefs and practices of ordinary Christians from circa 500 to 1000 AD
Click here to read the Introduction and Chapter 1: Concepts, Contexts, Sources
Review by James Bugslag from The Medieval Review: “This book offers far more than one might expect from the title. The topic of “pagan survivals, superstitions and popular cultures” is open to a wide range of interpretations. It is a subject area as much of interest to New Age proponents of Wicca as it is to the professional medievalists who constitute the author’s intended audience. Studies on medieval topics as varied as rural social relations, holy wells, the benandanti , heresy, pilgrimage, and magic commonly invoke aspects of an “alternative” worldview that can be elusive to the many non-specialists interested in this material.”
Review from Michael D. Bailey from Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft: “This is a broad and deeply researched study, but also a carefully limited one. Bernadette Filotas wants to examine popular religion and culture across five centuries, from roughly 500 to 1000, or, as she neatly puts it, from the episcopacy of Caesarius of Arles to that of Burchard of Worms.”
Click here to go to the Publisher’s website
Subscribe to Medievalverse
Related Posts