Christian Memories of the Maccabean Martyrs. By Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski
Wendy Mayer
In recent decades, the topic of Christian identity-formation vis-à-vis Judaism(s) has been subjected to an increasing range theoretical approaches. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski's Memories Maccabean Martyrs situates itself firmly within that trend. This is at once both a useful and problematic book—useful, in it concludes postcolonial analysis over millennium historical narratives on martyrs with sensitive critique ethics reading supersessionism contemporary relevance; problematic, reworked from author's doctoral dissertation, leading degree repetition, unevenness treatment, occasional error early chapters. It be stressed, nonetheless, its value exceeds shortcomings, title some undersells contents. While number studies individual discourses have produced throughout past century, Joslyn-Siemiatkoski offers first attempt bring together subject unifying differing phases production these fourth sixteenth centuries CE countries as diverse north Africa, Mediterranean east, northwestern Europe. His study employs hermeneutic, attention concept hybridity, adducing addition scholarship collective memory notion allosemitism describe ambivalence towards Jews characteristic certain narratives. allows him highlight appeals inherent much treated literature, concluding chapter, which elevates beyond draw important lesson for historians, Christians all persuasions, adherents more fundamentalist branches religions alike.
Journal of the American Academy of Religion