Introduction
The Terminology of Martyrdom
The Ancient Theologies of Martyrdom
1: The Psychoanalytic Study of Martyrdom
The Psychoanalytic Analysis of Political Power
The Specific Family Romance of Second Maccabees
2: The Family Romance as Victory Story
Second Maccabees as Triumphalist History
Persecution as a Triumphalist Strategy
3: Theologies of Martyrdom Recast Authority and Cult
The Problem of Too Many Kings
Temple Cult in Second Maccabees: Hierarchies of Sacredness and Power
4: Rereading Sacrifice: Human Blood as a Sign
How Did Blood Become a Sign?
5: The Martyr’s New Sacrifice: Solving the Maccabean Sacrifice Crisis
Killing within the Family: Reworking Priestly Taboos
6: The Happy Ending of Two Wishes Fulfilled
Wish #1: Male Mothers and Child-bearing Fathers
Wish #2: The Family Reunites
Conclusions
Appendix 1: 2 Maccabees 7
Appendix 2: A Speculative Note on Displacing Women in Religious Myths and Rites
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Naomi Janowitz is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California-Davis, USA.
