Pagan Survivals, Superstitions And Popular Cultures In Early Medieval Pastoral Literature (Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Sutdies)
Book Description
This scholarly exploration unveils the fascinating intersection between ancient pagan traditions and emerging Christian practices during a pivotal era in European spiritual history. Drawing from ecclesiastical records, sermons, legal documents, and pastoral writings spanning five centuries, Bernadette Filotas reconstructs the lived religious experiences of ordinary people navigating profound cultural transformation.
The work illuminates how traditional folk beliefs persisted alongside Christian teachings, creating a rich tapestry of spiritual practices that defied simple categorization. Through careful examination of historical sources, readers discover how communities approached fundamental human concerns about nature, death, celebration, and the sacred in their daily lives.
Rather than viewing this period as a simple replacement of old beliefs with new ones, Filotas reveals the complex process of mutual adaptation between Christianity and indigenous cultures. The evidence presented shows how people integrated magical practices, seasonal festivals, dietary customs, and folk remedies into their evolving spiritual worldview.
For contemporary spiritual seekers, this comprehensive study offers valuable insights into how religious traditions naturally blend and transform over time. The book demonstrates that spiritual evolution often involves synthesis rather than wholesale abandonment of previous practices, providing perspective on how modern practitioners might honor both innovation and tradition in their own spiritual journeys.
This detailed examination spans 438 pages of meticulously researched material, offering readers a thorough understanding of medieval spiritual life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~12 hours)
📄 Length: 438 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Paganisme dans la littérature
- ✓ Explore Littérature pastorale latine
- ✓ Explore Histoire et critique
- ✓ Explore Paganisme
- ✓ Explore Superstition in literature
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Christian literature, Latin (Medieval and modern)
- ✓ Explore Latin Pastoral literature