Martyrdom: A Very Short Introduction

• Provides a clear and concise discussion of the debates surrounding martyrdom
• Includes specific cases of martyrdoms from various different historical contexts and religious traditions
• Addresses the most pertinent questions: What is martyrdom?, Why are some people drawn towards giving up their lives as martyrs?, What place does religion play in inciting and creating martyrs?
• Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over five million copies sold worldwide

Readership: General readers; students in religious studies, theology, cultural studies, media, film, and communication studies; as well as students of the history of art, regional studies, as well as peace and conflict studies.

Jolyon Mitchell, Director of CTPI (the Centre for Theology and Public Issues) at the University of Edinburgh

Jolyon Mitchell is Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Edinburgh. A former BBC World Service Producer and Journalist he is author or editor of many books, articles and essays. Recent books include Media Violence and Christian Ethics (CUP, 2007), The Religion and Film Reader (contributing co-editor, Routledge, 2007), Promoting Peace, Inciting Violence (2011), and Religion and the News (2011).

Introduction
1: Contesting martyrdom
2: Thinking martyrdom
3: Remembering martyrdom
4: Romanticising martyrdom
5: Touching martyrdom
6: Reforming martyrdom
7: Politicizing martyrdom
8: Conclusion: The end of martyrdom