How can religion transform a society? This book investigates the ways in which a medieval Islamic movement harnessed Qur'anic visions of utopia to construct one of the most brilliant empires in Islamic history.The Fatimids' apocalyptic vision of their central place in an imminent utopia played a critical role in transfiguring the intellectual and political terrains of North Africa in the early tenth century. Yet the realities that they faced on the ground often challenged their status as the custodians of a pristine Islam at the end of time. As well as examining the organisational features of the Fatimid revolution; Jamel Velji shows how the Fatimids viewed their mission as bringing about an imminent utopia. He then looks at how they re-examined their place in history when the expected end failed to materialise.
#5802605 in Books 2009-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .60 x 5.00l; .45 #File Name: 0745952356192 pages
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Excellent introduction into Celtic SpiritualityBy Eric R. Barr; loughderg@aol.comThere are a lot of books out on this subject; but this one is one of the best. Sampson is an excellent; engaging writer. Into the midst of profound ideas; she injects the entertaining; fascinating stories of the Celtic saints and those associated with them. What emerges is a tale of great beauty and deep meaning--a new light on a worlwide faith. What sets her book apart from others is her refusal to pit a Celtic Church against a Roman or Continental Church. To the average reader this is no big deal; but so much that is written about Celtic Christianity these days deals more with polemic than with reality. She keeps us firmly based in reality and gives us a side of Christianity that should be valued; appreciated and practiced in our day and age. Great book; great read; great contribution!7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A fascinating and informative bookBy Helen HancoxThis book covers Christianity in Britain from AD57 to 909 and beyond. It looks at the history and identity of the Celtic peoples of Britain; Ireland and continental Europe and how they embraced the Christian faith. Fay Sampson explores the growth and structure of the church whilst telling the stories of pioneering individuals such as Patrick; Brigid; Columba and David. She follows Rome's gradual absorption of the British and Irish abbeys and traditions and the effects of settlement by Angles; Saxons and Jutes.A chapter on the Synod of Whitby summarises how a difference of opinion on tonsure styles and the date of Easter altered the course of church history; something of which any contemporary Christian reader would do well to be reminded.This is a fascinating and informative book. Sampson includes an index; timeline; maps and a list of further reading. Some footnotes and references would also have been helpful. More careful editing and typesetting and a better cover design would have done her research and the subject justice.This review by Auntie Charlotte3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Interesting history bookBy John DekkerThis book's subtitle is a little misleading; as the book has much more to do with the *history* of Celtic Christianity than its "spirituality". But it contains a whole lot of great stories and fascinating characters.
