You have no items in your shopping cart.
Close
Search
Filters

Standing At Lyon

An Examination of the Martyrdom of Blandina of Lyon


The suffering woman, Blandina, emerges as an archetypal figure of the martyrs of Lyon. This slave-woman ultimately arises to engage in battle with the powers of the Roman Empire. Through the application of Bowen Family Systems Theory and the writings of Michel Foucault the book explains the function of anxiety, and the dynamics at work in the system that result in the failure of Roman authority to use power to quell the rise of Christianity. The reactions of those who might appear to be the most powerful are essential in gifting power to this lowly slave.
Publisher: Gorgias Press LLC
Availability: In stock
SKU (ISBN): 978-1-4632-0384-9
  • *
Publication Status: In Print
Publication Date: Jun 18,2014
Interior Color: Black
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Page Count: 189
Languages: English
ISBN: 978-1-4632-0384-9
$75.00
Ship to
*
*
Shipping Method
Name
Estimated Delivery
Price
No shipping options

The suffering woman, Blandina, emerges as an archetypal figure in the narrative of the martyrs of Lyon. A minor player at the onset, this slave-woman ultimately arises to engage in battle with the powers of the Roman Empire. Through the application of Bowen Family Systems Theory and the writings of Michel Foucault the book explains the function of anxiety, and the dynamics at work in the system, that result in the failed attempt of Roman authority to use power to quell the rise of Christianity in society.

The examination of martyr stories is often undertaken from an individual viewpoint; that is, by looking at the acts of the martyr through the lens of that suffering person alone. This examination of human action through a systemic lens illustrates the richness of the story and provides a fuller understanding of the place of the definition of self, which is the hallmark of the martyrs.

How can a lowly slave woman, seemingly without status within a highly-stratified society, take on representatives of the most powerful force on the European continent and emerge victorious? Blandina has an unshakeable connection to the Christ of God. Throughout the narrative she remains unwavering in her faith in him – but this is only one piece of the story. The reactions of those who might appear to be the most powerful are essential in gifting power to this lowly slave.

Martyrs remain among us today. The question remains with us concerning how our responses might empower them.

Elizabeth A. Goodine is Assistant Professor of Religion at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree at SUNY Fredonia, and her master’s and doctorate in Religious Studies from Temple University. Elizabeth is a former nurse; served the church in Nigeria; and was most recently an adjunct professor at Loyola University New Orleans. She was in New Orleans during and after hurricane Katrina which heightened her interest in the place of religion in daily life.

The suffering woman, Blandina, emerges as an archetypal figure in the narrative of the martyrs of Lyon. A minor player at the onset, this slave-woman ultimately arises to engage in battle with the powers of the Roman Empire. Through the application of Bowen Family Systems Theory and the writings of Michel Foucault the book explains the function of anxiety, and the dynamics at work in the system, that result in the failed attempt of Roman authority to use power to quell the rise of Christianity in society.

The examination of martyr stories is often undertaken from an individual viewpoint; that is, by looking at the acts of the martyr through the lens of that suffering person alone. This examination of human action through a systemic lens illustrates the richness of the story and provides a fuller understanding of the place of the definition of self, which is the hallmark of the martyrs.

How can a lowly slave woman, seemingly without status within a highly-stratified society, take on representatives of the most powerful force on the European continent and emerge victorious? Blandina has an unshakeable connection to the Christ of God. Throughout the narrative she remains unwavering in her faith in him – but this is only one piece of the story. The reactions of those who might appear to be the most powerful are essential in gifting power to this lowly slave.

Martyrs remain among us today. The question remains with us concerning how our responses might empower them.

Elizabeth A. Goodine is Assistant Professor of Religion at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree at SUNY Fredonia, and her master’s and doctorate in Religious Studies from Temple University. Elizabeth is a former nurse; served the church in Nigeria; and was most recently an adjunct professor at Loyola University New Orleans. She was in New Orleans during and after hurricane Katrina which heightened her interest in the place of religion in daily life.

Write your own review
  • Only registered users can write reviews
*
*
Bad
Excellent
*
*
*
*
ContributorBiography

ElizabethGoodine

Elizabeth A Goodine is Assistant Professor of Religion at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree at SUNY Fredonia, and her master’s and doctorate in Religious Studies from Temple University. Elizabeth is a former nurse; served the church in Nigeria; and was most recently an adjunct professor at Loyola University New Orleans. She was in New Orleans during and after hurricane Katrina which heightened her interest in the place of religion in daily life. Elizabeth continues to work in interdisciplinary studies as her interest in Bowen Theory with its view of the human condition would indicate.

  • Table of Contents (page 7)
  • Acknowledgments (page 9)
  • Introduction (page 11)
  • Background to the Text and Theoretical Framework (page 17)
  • Rivers of Life (page 33)
  • Law and Order (page 71)
  • "Don't Just Do Something: Stand There!" (page 107)
  • The Peril of the Pen: Constructing a Self (page 139)
  • Conclusion (page 173)
  • Bibliography (page 177)
  • Index (page 187)
Customers who bought this item also bought
Picture of The Works of Cyrillona

The Works of Cyrillona

Cyrillona (fl. 396) has been ranked among the foremost early Syriac poets since his work was rediscovered by scholars in the mid-19th century. His Holy Week discourses on the Last Supper, the Washing of the Feet, and the Institution of the Eucharist have become particularly well-known to western readers through quotations by such diverse authors as Hugo Rahner and Photina Rech. This volume presents the first modern critical edition of Cyrillona’s Syriac works together with the first complete English translation.
$60.00 $36.00
Picture of Lactantius the Theologian

Lactantius the Theologian

This book examines the doctrine of providence as it appears in the works of the North African Latin apologist, L. Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius.
$155.00 $93.00
ImageFromGFF

Isaac the Syrian's Spiritual Works

Isaac the Syrian lived the solitary life in the 7th century. He was born in Qatar and subsequently lived in present day Iraq and Iran. After life as a monk, then briefly as a bishop, he withdrew to live the solitary life. These discourses are primarily for solitaries to consolidate them in the love and mercy of God. In this volume, the text of Isaac V has also been included because of the light which it sheds on Apocatastasis, of increasing interest in academic and ecclesial circles.
$90.00 $54.00
ImageFromGFF

Myth, Text, and History at Sparta

Three studies that offer close readings concerning the interaction of the source material on Spartan history with the unfolding of actual historical events. These contributions take the position that not only political, but also social, policies at Sparta, as well as the historical actors giving them shape, were intensely─and to an unusual degree─influenced by myth, tradition, and popular memory about the Laconian past.
$170.00 $102.00