Tertullian the African: An Anthropological Reading of Tertullian's Context and Identities

David E. Wilhite

Open Access Published by De Gruyter 2007

Tertullian the African

An Anthropological Reading of Tertullian's Context and Identities

David E. Wilhite

Volume 14 in the series Millennium-Studien / Millennium Studies

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110926262

Overview
Contents

About this book

Who was Tertullian, and what can we know about him? This work explores his social identities, focusing on his North African milieu. Theories from the discipline of social/cultural anthropology, including kinship, class and ethnicity, are accommodated and applied to selections of Tertullian’s writings. In light of postcolonial concerns, this study utilizes the categories of Roman colonizers, indigenous Africans and new elites. The third category, new elites, is actually intended to destabilize the other two, denying any “essential” Roman or African identity. Thereafter, samples from Tertullian’s writings serve to illustrate comparisons of his own identities and the identities of his rhetorical opponents. The overall study finds Tertullian’s identities to be manifold, complex and discursive. Additionally, his writings are understood to reflect antagonism toward Romans, including Christian Romans (which is significant for his so-called Montanism), and Romanized Africans. While Tertullian accommodates much from Graeco-Roman literature, laws and customs, he nevertheless retains a strongly stated non-Roman-ness and an African-ity, which is highlighted in the present monograph.

Author / Editor information

David Wilhite , Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA.

Reviews

"Wilhite masterfully marries modern social theories with early Christian literature."
Geoffrey D. Dunn in: BMCR 2008.02.16

Topics

Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	I
Acknowledgements Open Access Download PDF	V
Contents Open Access Download PDF	VII
Abbreviations Open Access Download PDF	X
Chapter One - Conceptual Frameworks for Re-Reading Tertullian
1.1 A Postcolonial Re-reading of Tertullian Open Access Download PDF	1
1.2 An Anthropologcial "Writing" of Tertullian Open Access Download PDF	9
1.3 Patristic Readings of Tertullian Open Access Download PDF	17
1.4 The Context of Tertullian: Colonization of Africa Open Access Download PDF	27
1.5 The Context of Tertullian: Christianization of Roman Africa Open Access Download PDF	31
1.6 Conclusion Open Access Download PDF	35
Chapter Two - Social Identity
2.1 Social Anthropology and Social Identity Open Access Download PDF	37
2.2 Roman Africa and Social Identity Open Access Download PDF	40
2.3 Ancient African Christians and Social Identity Open Access Download PDF	48
2.4 Tertullian and Social Identity Open Access Download PDF	59
Chapter Three - Kinship Theory
3.1 Social Anthropology and Kinship Identity Open Access Download PDF	76
3.2 Roman Africa and Kinship Identity Open Access Download PDF	81
3.3 Ancient African Christians and Kinship Identity Open Access Download PDF	87
3.4 Tertullian and Kinship Identity Open Access Download PDF	94
Chapter Four - Class Theory
4.1 Social Anthropology and Class Identity Open Access Download PDF	103
4.2 Roman Africa and Class Identity Open Access Download PDF	107
4.3 Ancient African Christians and Class Identity Open Access Download PDF	112
4.4 Tertullian and Class Identity Open Access Download PDF	114
Chapter Five - Ethnicity Theory
5.1 Social Anthropology and Ethnic Identity Open Access Download PDF	120
5.2 Roman Africa and Ethnic Identity Open Access Download PDF	124
5.3 Ancient African Christians and Ethnic Identity Open Access Download PDF	131
5.4 Tertullian and Ethnic Identity Open Access Download PDF	133
Chapter Six - Anthropology of Religion
6.1 Social Anthropology and Religious Identity Open Access Download PDF	146
6.2 Roman Africa and Religious Identity Open Access Download PDF	150
6.3 Ancient African Christians and Religious Identity Open Access Download PDF	157
6.4 Tertullian and Religious Identity Open Access Download PDF	162
Chapter Seven - Disciplinary Frameworks for Re-Contextualizing Tertullian
7.1 Tertullian and Africa in Patristic Studies Open Access Download PDF	177
7.2 Tertullian and Africa in Historical Theology Open Access Download PDF	181
Bibliography
General Open Access Download PDF	193
Ancient Authors Open Access Download PDF	223
Index
Subject Open Access Download PDF	227
Modern Authors Open Access Download PDF	231

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Academics, Institutes, Libraries
Pages
- Front matter: 12
- Main content: 232
Keywords: Tertullian; Montanism; Roman Africa; African Christianity

eBook

Published: June 24, 2011
ISBN: 9783110926262

Hardcover

Published: June 18, 2007
ISBN: 9783110194531