On the Altar: A conversation with historian Jonathan Sheehan

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with historian Jonathan Sheehan about his book on the history of sacrifice in Christianity and its relevance today.

Hosts and Commonweal contributors Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins and Nick Tabor chat with Jonathan Sheehan, professor of European history at UC Berkeley, about his new book, On the Altar: A History of Sacrifice from the Sacred to the Secular (Princeton University Press). Together, they explore the long, contested history of Christian sacrifice, from the early church and the cult of the martyrs through the Reformation and into the secular modern world—and discuss what the language of sacrifice still offers us today. Episode production and original music by Joel Myers.

People in this episode

Hosts: Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins, Nick Tabor

Guest: Jonathan Sheehan

Topics covered

• Christian sacrifice
• history
• secularism
• Reformation
• early church
• martyrdom

Keywords

• sacrifice
• Christianity
• history
• secular modern world
• Reformation
• cult of martyrs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UC Berkeley, Princeton University Press

Books & works: On the Altar: A History of Sacrifice from the Sacred to the Secular

More episodes of The Commonweal Podcast

• Ep. 163 - ‘A Coherent Picture of Reality’ · June 11, 2026 · 46 min
• The City and the Cross—Episode 1: From the Ground Up · June 10, 2026 · 52 min
• The City and the Cross—Series Trailer · June 8, 2026 · 3 min
• Ep. 162 - Subversive Cartography · June 2, 2026 · 51 min
• Ep. 161 - Catholicism and Community Organizing · May 14, 2026 · 46 min
• Ep. 160 - Humble Work · April 30, 2026 · 51 min