The Marvel of Martyrdom, Sophia Moskalenko
The Marvel of Martyrdom, Sophia Moskalenko
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The Marvel of Martyrdom
The Power of Self-Sacrifice in a Selfish World

Author: Sophia Moskalenko, Clark McCauley

Narrator: Xe Sands

Unabridged: 8 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/07/2019

Categories: Nonfiction, Psychology


Synopsis

The Marvel of Martyrdom is about how self-sacrifice can change lives and how martyrs can change the world.

The book starts large—with famous and influential martyrs such as Jesus and Gandhi—and ends small—with ordinary people whose own experiences of self-sacrifice give martyrdom its political power. Seeking the developmental origins of self-sacrifice, the book explores children's folklore and the success of mega-hits such as The Matrix and Harry Potter. Seeking the everyday rewards of self-sacrifice, the book shows the potential for finding meaning and happiness in helping others.

The Marvel of Martyrdom takes a broad perspective on self-sacrifice and martyrdom, bringing together religion, popular culture, history, psychology, and mythology. Stories of individuals both famous (Gandhi) and obscure (Rodrigo Rosenberg) intertwine with research on altruism, happiness, and radicalization to terrorism. The changing landscape of the book's setting—from The Roman Empire to nineteenth-century Russia to Nazi Germany to post–World War II India, to present day Ukraine—makes the power of self-sacrifice and martyrdom come alive and shows their potential to change people and cultures.

About Sophia Moskalenko

Sophia Moskalenko is a psychologist who studies terrorism, radicalization, martyrdom, and self-sacrifice. She is a research fellow at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Paul

Moskalenko and McCauley lay out a definition of martyrdom that’s relevant and important for contemporary readers, connecting their definition and razor-sharp insights to history, story, research, and everyday life. They entertain with examples both familiar and unexpected—ranging from Jesus and Maha......more

Goodreads review by Ron

This book should be on the shelves of every seminary bookstore. The authors disabuse us of false martyrs and point us toward a truly transformative model and understanding of self-sacrifice. Full of examples from pop culture, history, and scripture, The Marvel of Martyrdom is a marvelous addition to......more