Between personal and institutional religion

Between personal and institutional religion

By Bruria Bitton-Ashkelony

Book Description

This scholarly exploration delves into the dynamic relationship between individual spiritual experience and organized religious structures in early Eastern Christianity. Through careful examination of late antiquity, Bruria Bitton-Ashkelony reveals how personal devotion and institutional faith continuously shaped each other, creating a rich tapestry of religious transformation.

The book illuminates how Christians of this era navigated between their inner spiritual lives and their participation in formal religious communities. Rather than viewing personal and institutional religion as opposing forces, the author demonstrates their creative interplay, showing how individual believers influenced church practices while institutional frameworks guided personal spiritual development.

By focusing on processes of revision and adaptation, this work offers fresh insights into how Eastern Christianity evolved through the ongoing dialogue between private devotion and public religious identity. The analysis draws from patristic literature and monastic traditions to reveal the mechanisms of religious change during this pivotal period.

Readers interested in understanding how spiritual communities develop and transform will find valuable perspectives on the delicate balance between personal authenticity and communal belonging. The book provides a nuanced view of how religious cultures adapt while maintaining continuity, offering insights relevant to anyone exploring the relationship between individual spiritual growth and participation in faith communities.

This comprehensive study spans 345 pages of detailed historical and theological analysis.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)

📄 Length: 345 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Sources
  • ✓ Explore Middle ages, history
  • ✓ Explore Fornkyrkan
  • ✓ Explore History of doctrines
  • ✓ Explore Christian antiquities
  • ✓ Explore Eastern churches
  • ✓ Explore Doctrines
  • ✓ Explore Christianity

Topics Covered

Sources Middle ages, history Fornkyrkan History of doctrines Christian antiquities Eastern churches Doctrines Christianity Kristet liv Christian life Experience (Religion) Early church Spiritual life History

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