impact wrenches
ultimate devotion the historical impact and archaeological expression of intense religious movements
in the hands of dissenting religious zealots faith and ritual can be powerful means in mobilizing people towards radical change . from the viewpoint of many historical rebel zealots shattering existing political and social institutions was a pre condition for the forthcoming regency of god . repercussions were traumatic often catastrophic . this book examines several intense religious movements from various historical backgrounds . even though there were no known communications between the cultures and groups from which the movements arose they show striking similarities in the ways they emerged in the characters of their leaders and followers as well as in their often tragic conclusion . the earliest of these cases the first jewish revolt against rome 66 73 ce is discussed in particular detail . the importance of this case is in its historical and ideological affiliations to jewish christian and in a less direct way muslim messianism . in addition it offers a rich variety of archaeological materials that reflect the intense religious ideology which guided the rebels . some classes of finds can be used in the investigation of religious intensification in other times cultures and circumstances . overall this book joins archaeological and textual evidence to anthropological theory to present a previously untested model of mass action inspired by intense religion . new light is shed on dramatic developments that altered the history of the peoples involved with meaningful insights on some pressing issues in our own modern realities .