Abstract
This paper examines the concept of “rescue apologetics” within the context of preserving endangered religious manuscripts, highlighting the persistent themes of fragility, forgetfulness, and failure that characterize these efforts. While the intention behind rescue apologetics is to safeguard valuable cultural artifacts from destruction, the reality reveals a troubling pattern: despite well-meaning preservation initiatives, many manuscripts remain at risk due to ongoing threats, including conflict, neglect, and environmental degradation. By analyzing historical case studies, particularly the Bibliotheque Orientale in Beirut, this paper illustrates how the cyclical nature of loss has led to repeated failures in learning from past experiences, as cultural memory often fades amidst shifting priorities. Fragility underscores the inherent vulnerability of manuscripts, while forgetfulness reflects a collective oversight of the lessons history offers regarding preservation practices. Ultimately, the paper argues that the shortcomings of rescue apologetics reveal a broader critique of preservation discourse, and humanities research suggesting that without a sustained commitment to addressing the systemic factors contributing to manuscript vulnerability, efforts to save these texts will continue to fall short. This exploration invites a reevaluation of how we approach the preservation of cultural heritage and calls for a more nuanced understanding of the interconnectedness of memory, loss, and scholarly responsibility.
Presenters
Maroun El HoukayemStudent, PhD Religious Studies, Duke University, North Carolina, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Fragile Meanings: Vulnerability in the Study of Religions and Spirituality
KEYWORDS
Cultural Heritage, Destruction, Violence, Manuscripts, Ethics
