{"product_id":"from-feasting-to-fasting-study-of-early-christian-attitudes-to-food","title":"From Feasting To Fasting - Study of Early Christian Attitudes to Food","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of From Feasting To Fasting the reviewer finds a focused scholarly treatment of how early Christian writings framed food, eating and fasting. The book is best for readers seeking a historical and comparative account rather than a devotional manual; its single biggest reason to buy is the author's careful juxtaposition of Christian texts with contemporary Jewish and Graeco-Roman sources, which gives a clear view of how ascetic fasting and ideas about food as moral matter developed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical context:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book explains first-century Jewish and Graeco-Roman social backgrounds, helping readers see Christian material in its original milieu.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTextual comparison:\u003c\/strong\u003e Close readings of passages from Paul, Acts, Tertullian and Augustine are compared with contemporaneous texts to show contrasts and continuities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThematic focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Attention to the connection between fasting and sexual mortification clarifies a persistent strand in Christian asceticism.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScholarly synthesis:\u003c\/strong\u003e The study weaves historical description and literary analysis to present a coherent picture of early Christian attitudes to food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRelevance to modern issues:\u003c\/strong\u003e By linking ancient beliefs to present-day attitudes toward food and purity, the book offers perspective useful to scholars of religion and culture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis work is aimed at students and readers of religious history, theology and cultural studies who want a focused, academic examination of early Christian writings on food and fasting. It suits those who appreciate comparisons across Jewish, Christian and Graeco-Roman texts and want fresh context for ascetic practices.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a practical guide to fasting, a modern diet manual or a devotional devotional text should look elsewhere, since the book is analytic and historically oriented rather than prescriptive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear historical framing makes primary texts more intelligible to non-specialists.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComparative readings highlight how Christian attitudes differed from or echoed contemporaries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscussion of fasting and sexual mortification offers insight into long-term cultural influence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe book is scholarly in tone and may be dense for casual readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrom Feasting To Fasting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVeronika E. Grimm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEarly Christian texts on food, eating and fasting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eComparative sources\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePauline Epistles, Acts, Tertullian, Augustine, Jewish and Graeco-Roman texts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain theme\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAscetic fasting and mortification of the flesh\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHistorical and textual analysis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom Feasting To Fasting is a well-argued, historically grounded study that rewards readers interested in how early Christian writings shaped enduring ideas about food and purity. Its comparative method and topical focus make it valuable for students and scholars, offering good value for anyone wanting a concise, evidence-based account rather than a devotional guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book compare Christian and non-Christian sources?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it explicitly compares Christian texts with contemporary Jewish and Graeco-Roman pagan writings to clarify similarities and differences.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a practical guide to fasting today?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the book is historical and analytic, not a modern dietary or devotional handbook.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is the author?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVeronika E. Grimm is the scholar responsible for the analysis and synthesis presented in the book.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Veronika E. 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