Marginality, Media, and Mutations of Religious Authority in the History of Christianity [Paperback]

Marginal figures, from heretics, ascetics and mystics to saints,visionaries and witches have played key roles in decisive mutations ofreligious authority in the history of different forms of Christianity.This book offers new theoretical perspectives on the theme ofmarginality in a series of in-depth case studies of marginal figures andforms of marginality. It presents a distinction between socialmarginality, often resulting from social exclusion and demonization aswell as involving discomfort and distress, and religious marginality,which can be voluntary, actively sought out, and performed. Thecontributions analyse both social and religious forms of marginality anddemonstrate how a focus on media is crucial for understanding the roleof marginality in authority mutations in the long history ofChristianity. The articles discuss a wide range of media, from amulets,space, technologies of the self, literary forms, to visual culture andmass and social media. The book thus offers media-based pointers forcomparative, historical studies more broadly in the study of religions.