Passion and Compassion in Early Christianity

This book examines how the early Christian elite articulated and cultivated the affective dimensions of compassion in a Roman world that promoted emotional tranquillity as the path to human flourishing. Drawing upon a wide range of early Christians from both east and west, Wessel situates each author in the broader cultural and intellectual context. The reader is introduced to the diverse conditions in which Christians felt and were urged to feel compassion in exemplary ways, and in which warnings were sounded against the possibilities for distortion and exploitation. Wessel argues that the early Christians developed literary methods and rhetorical techniques to bring about appropriate emotional responses to human suffering. Their success in this regard marks the beginning of affective compassion as a Christian virtue. Comparison with early modern and contemporary philosophers and ethicists further demonstrates the intrinsic worth of the early Christian understanding of compassion.

List of contents

1. The setting; 2. Suffering; 3. Disgust; 4. Feelings; 5. Charity; 6. Love; 7. Reflections.

About the author

Susan Wessel is Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.

Summary

Drawing upon a wide range of early Christians from both east and west, Wessel expertly places each author in the broader cultural and intellectual context. She introduces the reader to new insights into the intrinsic worth of the early Christians' commitment to developing a compassionate and emotional response to human suffering.

Product details

• Authors: Susan Wessel, Susan (Catholic University of America Wessel, Wessel Susan
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 09.06.2016
• EAN: 9781107125100
• ISBN: 978-1-107-12510-0
• No. of pages: 290
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; RELIGION / Christianity / History, RELIGION / Christian Theology / General, RELIGION / Christianity / General, RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources, Theology, Christianity, Christian theology, History of Religion, Church history, c 500 to c 1000 CE, BCE to c 500 CE, C 500 CE To C 1000 CE, Religious social and pastoral thought and activity, BCE period – Protohistory, Christian social thought & activity