📖 Overview
David Frankfurter is a professor of religious studies and history at Boston University, specializing in ancient Mediterranean religions, early Christianity, and Jewish mysticism. His research focuses on religious practices, magic, and supernatural beliefs in the ancient world.
Frankfurter's influential work "Evil Incarnate: Rumors of Demonic Conspiracy and Religious Persecution from the Early Christians to the Modern Era" (2006) examines how societies construct and perpetuate beliefs about evil conspiracies. The book received the Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion from the American Academy of Religion.
His other major works include "Religion in Roman Egypt: Assimilation and Resistance" (1998) and "Christianizing Egypt: Syncretism and Local Worlds in Late Antiquity" (2017). These texts explore religious transformation and cultural interaction in ancient Egyptian society.
Frankfurter's scholarship has helped shape contemporary understanding of how religious traditions develop and interact, particularly in ancient Mediterranean and Egyptian contexts. His research methodology combines historical analysis with insights from anthropology and religious studies.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Frankfurter's ability to analyze complex religious phenomena without sensationalism. His academic works appeal primarily to scholars and advanced students studying ancient religions and religious violence.
What readers liked:
- Clear explanations of difficult theoretical concepts
- Detailed historical evidence and case studies
- Balanced treatment of controversial topics around religious persecution
- Strong citation of primary sources
What readers disliked:
- Dense academic language that can be challenging for general readers
- High price point of academic texts
- Some sections become repetitive
- Limited accessibility for undergraduate level
Ratings:
Goodreads:
- Evil Incarnate: 4.0/5 (52 ratings)
- Religion in Roman Egypt: 4.2/5 (24 ratings)
- Christianizing Egypt: 4.3/5 (12 ratings)
Amazon reviews highlight the books' value for graduate studies but note they "require significant background knowledge" and are "not introductory texts." Academic reviewers frequently cite his methodological rigor and thorough research.
📚 Books by David Frankfurter
Evil Incarnate: Rumors of Demonic Conspiracy and Satanic Abuse in History (2006)
Examines historical cases of demonic and satanic conspiracy accusations across different cultures and time periods, analyzing their common patterns and social impacts.
Religion in American History: A Reader (1997) A collection of primary source documents and scholarly essays covering religious developments throughout American history from colonial times to the late 20th century.
Wood Demons: Global Accusations and the Social Construction of Evil (2023) Analyzes how societies construct narratives about evil through case studies of witch hunts, moral panics, and conspiracy theories across different cultures.
Religion and Violence (2019) Explores the relationship between religious beliefs and violent behavior through historical examples and theoretical frameworks.
The Jews' Religion: Culture, History, and Theology (1972) Presents an overview of Jewish religious practices, cultural traditions, and theological concepts from ancient to modern times.
Religion in American History: A Reader (1997) A collection of primary source documents and scholarly essays covering religious developments throughout American history from colonial times to the late 20th century.
Wood Demons: Global Accusations and the Social Construction of Evil (2023) Analyzes how societies construct narratives about evil through case studies of witch hunts, moral panics, and conspiracy theories across different cultures.
Religion and Violence (2019) Explores the relationship between religious beliefs and violent behavior through historical examples and theoretical frameworks.
The Jews' Religion: Culture, History, and Theology (1972) Presents an overview of Jewish religious practices, cultural traditions, and theological concepts from ancient to modern times.
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