Polluting the Sacred

Daniel E. Thiery, Ph.D. (2003) in Medieval Studies, University of Toronto, is Assistant Professor of Medieval History at Iona College. He is a co-editor of A ‘Great Effusion of Blood’? Interpreting Medieval Violence (Toronto, 2004).

Those interested in English history, medieval and early modern studies/history, cultural history, social history, history of law and order, Church history, history of violence, religious studies, or historical anthropology.

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction: Religion and the ‘Civilizing process’

Part 1 Lessons on the value of Violence
Introduction to part 1
1. The Contra: Recognizing a Role for Violence
2. Sacred Space and Ritual: Creating an Expectancy of Restraint
3. The Eucharist and the Clergy: Fostering Charity Incarnate
4. Sermons, Confessions and Private Meditation: Learning that Vengeance Disturbs the Divine
Conclusion to part 1: Do Think Twice, It’s Not Alright

Part Two: Parishioners’ praxis
Introduction to part 2
5. Sacred Space and ritual: Finding Variation yet Common Expectation
6. The Eucharist: Demanding a Dreadful Peace
7. The Clergy: Swinging both Plowshares and Swords
8. Conclusion to Part II: The Reality of ‘Civility’ Spurred by Religion
Conclusion: Finding Religion in Restraint

Manuscript sources
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Index