{"product_id":"drama-and-the-death-of-god-secularity-on-stage-from-antiquity-to-shakespeare-paperback","title":"Drama and the Death of God: Secularity on Stage from Antiquity to Shakespeare - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJohn Parker\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDrama and the Death of God\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, John Parker argues that the secularity often associated with Shakespeare inspired a variety of performances going back to antiquity.\u003c\/b\u003e Scripture presupposes, even needs, the existence of a worldly sphere inimical to faith: known as the \u003ci\u003esaeculum\u003c\/i\u003e, this finite domain of appetite and unbelief invited both condemnation and celebration throughout medieval Christendom, as exemplified by the songs and plays of the \u003ci\u003eCarmina Burana\u003c\/i\u003e. After the tenth century, Christians routinely impersonated unbelievers in music dramas connected to the high holidays so that they might question biblical truths, especially the authenticity of miracles. The church generated by this means a vision of the godless world that modernity stepped into. After the English Reformation, when Europe's first commercial theaters arose on ruined monastic estates, players continued to showcase how divine intervention could be staged by humans in the absence of God. \u003ci\u003eKing Lear\u003c\/i\u003e in particular explores the ancient proposition that the \u003ci\u003esaeculum\u003c\/i\u003e holds no inherent meaning and is capable of generating only pseudomiraculous spectacles to salve the ache of existence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Parker is Associate Professor of English at the University of Virginia. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Aesthetics of Antichrist\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 312\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.7 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 15, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45429058502758,"sku":"9781501785290","price":72.43,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0599\/7255\/0758\/files\/ziYY6bYlIz9781501785290.webp?v=1775731812","url":"https:\/\/infinitylightwa.com\/products\/drama-and-the-death-of-god-secularity-on-stage-from-antiquity-to-shakespeare-paperback","provider":"Infinity Light","version":"1.0","type":"link"}