Legible Religion : Books, Gods, and Rituals in Roman Culture

Scholars have long emphasized the importance of scripture in studying religion, tacitly separating a few privileged "religions of the Book" from faiths lacking sacred texts, including ancient Roman religion. Looking beyond this distinction, Duncan MacRae delves into Roman religious culture to grapple with a central question: what was the significance of books in a religion without scripture? In the last two centuries BCE, Varro and other learned Roman authors wrote treatises on the nature of the Roman gods and the rituals devoted to them. Although these books were not sacred texts, they made Roman religion legible in ways analogous to scripture-based faiths such as Judaism and Christianity. Rather than reflect the astonishingly varied polytheistic practices of the regions under Roman sway, the contents of the books comprise Rome's "civil theology"--not a description of an official state religion but one limited to the civic role of religion in Roman life. An extended comparison between Roman books and the Mishnah--an early Rabbinic compilation of Jewish practice and law--highlights the important role of nonscriptural texts in the demarcation of religious systems. Tracing the subsequent influence of Roman religious texts from the late first century BCE to early fifth century CE, Legible Religion shows how two major developments--the establishment of the Roman imperial monarchy and the rise of the Christian Church--shaped the reception and interpretation of Roman civil theology. What Was The Significance Of Books In A Religion Without A Sacred Text? From The Beginning Of Critical Study Of Religion, The Presence Of Scripture - Sacred And Authoritative Texts - Has Divided A Few Privileged Religions Of The Book From Other Religions, Including Roman Religion, That Lack Such Books. Arguing That We Should Look Beyond This Distinction, Legible Religion Examines The Role Of Books In Roman Religious Culture. In Order To Get At The Question Of The Place Of Books In Religion, The Study Includes An Extended Comparison Between Roman Books On Their Religion And The Mishnah, An Early Rabbinic Compilation Of Jewish Practice And Law, To Highlight How Non-scriptural Texts Can Play An Important Part In The Demarcation Of Religious Systems.--provided By Publisher. Introduction: The Books Of Numa -- Part I: Writing Roman Religion -- Gods And Humans In Rome And Its Empire -- Writing Roman Religion -- Letters Of The Republic -- Part Ii: Comparison -- Rabbis And Romans -- Part Iii: Reading Roman Religion -- Emperor As Reader -- Paper Pagans -- Conclusion: Beyond Scripture And Literature. Duncan Macrae. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Introduction: The Books of Numa 12 Part I: Writing Roman Religion 22 Chapter 1. Gods and Humans in Rome and Its Empire 24 Chapter 2. Writing Roman Religion 39 Chapter 3. Letters of the Republic 64 Part II: Comparison 88 Chapter 4. Rabbis and Romans 90 Part III: Reading Roman Religion 110 Chapter 5. Emperor as Reader 112 Chapter 6. Paper Pagans 134 Conclusion: Beyond Scripture and Literature 152 Notes 160 Bibliography 222 Acknowledgments 264 Index 266