The Early Modern Jesuit Attitude towards Hindu and Ethiopian Strains of Asceticism

Leonardo Cohen, Ph.D. (2007, University of Haifa) is Professor at the Department of Middle East at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He has published articles on the history of the Jesuit mission in Ethiopia, and the book The Missionary Strategies of the Jesuits of Ethiopia (1555–1632) (Harrassowitz Verlag, 2009).

Introduction: The Early Modern Jesuit Attitude toward Hindu and Ethiopian Strains of Asceticism


 1 A Comparative View of Jesuits and Ascetics





1 Historical Background to the Jesuit–Eastern Ascetic Encounter


 1 The Missions and the Portuguese Padroado of the East


 2 The Jesuit Experience in India and Ethiopia


 3 The Jesuit Approach to Asceticism: In Search of Symmetry


 4 Hindu Ascetism





2 Understanding Ethiopian Asceticism


 1 Interest in the Origins of Ethiopian Asceticism


 2 Description and Assessment of the Ethiopian Ascetic


 3 The Danger of Relaxing Ascetic Norms


 4 The Virtues of the Virgin and the Question of Who Is a Good Christian


 5 Conclusion





3 Jesuits and Yogis: Description and Ambivalence


 1 The Visual Impact of Yogis


 2 Yogi as Role Model (Imitatio yogii)


 3 The Excesses of the Renunciants


 4 Conclusion





4 Confronting Yogis and Ethiopian Monks


 1 Doctrinal Errors and “Inadequate” Biblical Exegesis of Ethiopian Monks


 2 Degenerate Christianity


 3 Conclusion





5 Another Polemical Front: Faith, Healing, and Medicine


 1 Exorcisms and Healing


 2 Salvation through Images, Relics, Crosses, and Amulets


 3 Volatility, Social Tensions, and Natural Disasters


 4 The Allure of Shrines


 5 Conclusion





6 Jesuit Ambitions to Convert Ascetics


 1 The Motivations of Converts and the Genuine Conversion Dilemma


 2 “Conversion of the Heart”: The Jesuit Approach to the Evangelization of the Yogis


 3 The Conversion of Ethiopian Monks


 4 Coercion, Intimidation, and Punishment


 5 Fake Catholics


 6 Conclusion





Conclusion


Bibliography


Index