Pagan Middle Ages

This book sets out to show that paganism remained a force to be reckoned with, although concealed beneath a veneer of Christianity, well into the middle ages. Studies of early contacts between Christian missionaries and paganism, the evidence of archaeology, beliefs in the world between life and death, the transformation of the classical sybil into her medieval successor, the continuing cultic knowledge of herbs, and attitudes to sexuality - all support the survival of pagan beliefs. Each article draws extensively on source material to show how Christianity had to adapt to the demands of pagan culture and society in order to become the dominant religion; they also show how in matters of human sexuality or life and death, Christian theology at best provided an alternative, but never a permanent substitute, to non-Christian attitudes. The Belgian scholars who have collaborated on the book have the advantage of a wider European outlook on this fascinating topic: their view of the medieval world will be of wide interest. LUDO MILIS is Professor of Cultural and Religious History of the Middle Ages at the University of Ghent; he is also the author of Angelic Monks and Earthly Men (Boydell & Brewer). Others: MARTINE DE REU (Ghent), ALAIN DIERKENS (Brussels), CHRISTOPHE LEBBE (Ghent), ANNICK WAEGEMAN (Ghent), VERONIQUE CHARON (Ghent). Contents: The Pagan Middle Ages: A Contradiction in Terms? . The Missionaries: First Contact between Paganism and Christianity . The Evidence of Archaeology . The Shadow Realm Between Life and Death . The Medieval Sybil . The Knowledge of Herbs . Purity, Sex and Sin. Translated by Tanis Guest.