The Development of Female Ascetics in the Early Church

The Sacred Romance Drawing Closer to the Heart of God by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge is an interesting book that’s supposedly filled with useful information about how to live like a Christian and become more like Christ. However, this book has many issues. Brent Curtis and John Eldredge attempt to get us as readers to understand how to live and be more like Christ by comparing the pains and sufferings we all go through in our everyday lives to that of arrows piercing our hearts. As Curtis and Eldredge talked about arrows piercing our hearts I realized there have been times in my life that happened to me. Finally, after reading the book I realized that this book has the potential of being an interesting read but, it’s many errors leave us as readers confused.

Care of Souls provides an account of Christianity's historical practices of soul care through a culmination of his many years of scholarship, teaching and clinical work.

As early as the beginning of the Christian Church women had some important but very defined roles within the church. There were roles women could not play, of course, but that does not mean they did not have value to the Christian movement. Unfortunately, there have also been a lot of things overlooked that have been done by women, especially in the New Testament. There have also been arguments that the Christian Church is a "man's church" because men wrote the books of the bible and women did not have much say, apparently, in what happened during that time and how it was recorded. Even though not everyone was certain of the way women were treated in Christianity and whether they were accepted and applauded the way they should have and could have been, there were still many mentions of women doing great things. Scholars have begun to look into what women did during Old Testament and New Testament times, in an effort to have a better understanding of Christianity and the role women played in it in the past.

In the nineteenth century, the legal rights of women and men were highly affected by gender and race, both positively and negatively. In the book, “Kingdom of Matthias,” by Paul Johnson and Simon Wilentz, they describe the life of two females, Isabella Van Wagenen and Isabella Matthews Laisdell which whom were affected by slavery and high influences of higher power from men. In the nineteenth century it was believed that males were to support the family by working and earning a wage as a husband was to provide for his wife and a father to provide for his children (Fahs 1/5). Also, during the nineteenth century women were seen to be working in homes and supporting their husbands by cleaning the home, raising the children, and cooking meals

Before logical thought was regularly applied to functions of the human body, people made sense of daily misfortunes by attributing them to the moods and wills of the gods. In the minds of the Greek, afflictions were the result of disobedience and to live in good health was a blessing that only divine intervention could provide (History of Medicine 1). Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing, was often the one called upon in times of need. Asclepian temples were constructed in Greece and in the surrounding areas, and these sites of worship also became the centers of healing; Ill Grecians undertook lengthy pilgrimages to the temples in hopes that the God’s supposed restorative powers could ameliorate their tribulations (Greek Medicine 1). An orator at that time, Aeschines reported his encounter with godly healing by praising Asclepius: “No longer counting upon mortal skill, I placed all my hope in divinity. I came, Asclepius, into your sacred wood and I was cured in three of a wound I had in my head for a year” (Palatine Anthology 13). When cures were not left up to the divine, the rituals to rid a body of disease were primitive and mainly consisted of attempts to expel demons (Longrigg 14-16). Although the idea that sickness and religion are intertwined is

Theme in “Defender of the Faith” can be interpreted in many varying ways, some of which are life-long lessons and others to the relation between faith and the individual.

As a text written in the early middle ages, the Canon Episcopi by Regino of Prüm was revolutionary in the fact that it exemplified a growing skepticism for magic within the Christian community, and most importantly, it served as a strict call to arms for church officials to identify and eliminate practices of magic within parish communities. As a major theological text in the time where Christianity is finally solidifying doctrine, the Canon Episcopi should both draw upon existing ideas of its predecessors and shape the theological works of its successors. While the works of other theological minds show evidence of a common theme or influence, there is still extreme variability and sometimes even direct opposition to Regino’s themes. While

As there is much debate about the role of women in the church, I believe that we should, as in all circumstances, rely on the Word of God to instruct us as to God 's will. In many religious circles, this is a hot-button subject and everyone will not easily accept this teaching. Nevertheless, because it has become a church dividing issue, it demands an appropriate review.

female characters presented in her study “progress from trying to find sanctuary in the church to

Maureen O’Connell provides ample information concerning the idea of passion in the sacred text Compassion and Politically Dangerous Discipleship. O’Connell presents us with the philosophy studied by Augustine of Hippo. Augustine essentially emphasized the spirit over the body. In fact, On Christian Doctrine, Augustine argues that the “counsel of compassion” natures a particular kind of wisdom that enables compassionate people to see God more clearly and love God more fully (O’Connell, 73-74). Through compassion,

Thecla is captivated by Paul's message of salva¬tion by asceticism — along with many other

Scheid characterises the religious role of Roman women in terms of their incapacities and exclusions, which resulted in their position on the edge of Roman religious practices and ultimately on the edge of society in general. However, scholars have recently raised objections to the view that women were ‘relegated to a marginal role’ in religious affairs. Flemming, for example, argues that the ancient evidence does not necessarily support the notion that females did not participate in the central part of sacrifice. In light of this disparity in scholarly opinion, the aim of this paper is to re-evaluate the evidence and show that none of it necessitates the conclusion that women were not actively involved in the religious life of Rome. The

Thought separated by a few centuries for when they were highly focused on, both Christocentric and affective spirituality and Albigensianism find common ground and polar opposites between each other. If there was one thing both views practiced and encouraged, it was the practice of asceticism. Both beliefs practiced rigorous discipline, but more so, the practices were self-harming and self-deprecating. For Albigensians, practices included starvation (f) and the encouragement of suicide (CP 16), while those who followed affective spirituality, primarily women, would "[join] with the crucifix through physical suffering both involuntary and voluntary - that is, through illness and through self-mortification," may it be through "horrible pain, twisting of the body, and bleeding - whether inflicted by God or by oneself" (CP1 Medieval Essays 11).

“Women as Vessel” quote was used in the Bible to describe the role of early women in the Christian era. That period tells that tells women that God set them under the power of men for their security because they are weaker than the men. In any case, a more careful examination of this statement will uncover that it is not alluding to more fragile edge or constitution of the woman, yet to more uncertain status in the Christian era. It is in this way alluding to a common shortcoming wherein the woman is minimized and not given the chances to completely express her blessings and capacities.

Sir Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte d'Arthur is a classic piece of literate that reveals the depths of mankind in numerous ways. Man is a complicated creature, greatly influenced by a variety of circumstances and often the choices made in those times mold man into who he or she will become. The lens for which one views beauty and goodness can be greatly affected by these experiences. As I have spent time reflecting on Mallory’s writing, it is apparent that he used several key themes to explain his views of man; those being identity, fate, love, family, and redemption. These themes parallel much of scripture and when paid attention to, can help one understand the truths of Scripture on their Christian journey.