{"product_id":"breaking-the-mind-kristian-s-heal-9780813221663","title":"Breaking the Mind: New Studies in the Syriac \"Book of Steps\"","description":"Among the earliest writings in Syriac literature is the collection of 30 mēmrē or discourses entitled the \u003ci\u003eBook of Steps\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003eLiber Graduum\u003c\/i\u003e, most probably written in the late fourth century inside the Persian Empire (modern Iraq). The author, who deliberately withheld his name, wrote extensively on the spiritual life and exploits of two groups of committed Christians - the upright and the perfect - that flourished in a period prior to the development of monasticism. Deeply immersed in the exegesis of the Bible as a means of defining and guiding an ascetical lifestyle, the author defends celibacy, absolute poverty, the vocations of prayer, teaching and conflict resolution, as well as insisting that the perfect should not work. In an unparalleled manner for ascetical literature, by the end of the collection the author encourages the predominantly lay \"upright group\" to keep striving for the status of perfection as he is disappointed in the failings of the senior group he calls \"the perfect.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis collection of sixteen new critical essays offers fresh perspectives on the \u003ci\u003eBook of Steps\u003c\/i\u003e, adding greater detail and depth to our understanding of the work's intriguing picture of early Syriac asceticism as practiced within the life of a local church and community. The contributors offer perspectives on the book's historical context in the midst of the Persian-Roman conflicts, the influence of Manichaeism, dietary images, sexuality and marriage, biblical exegesis and the use of Pauline writings and theology, as well as explorations of the \u003ci\u003eBook of Steps\u003c\/i\u003e' distinctive approach to the ascetical life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Kristian S. Heal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0813221668\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780813221663\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Catholic University of America Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/19\/2013\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 350\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.20h x 6.40w x 1.20d","brand":"Kristian S. Heal","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":49096747712767,"sku":"9780813221663","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/breaking-the-mind-kristian-s-heal-9780813221663","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}