medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Sara Ellis:
The unhappy phrase "personalized religion" was intended to refer to
that somewhat exaggerated insistence on the individuality of the
canonized person apparent in the case of Francis of Assisi, etc. I
had the perhaps incorrect impression that a canonized prince tends to
be a "figmentum hominis", being there for his function rather than
his actions. As to the actual importance of women in the so-called
conversion of pagans, Jo Ann MacNamara has much useful information.
I also seem to remember a couple of Frankish queens, perhaps Clovis's
consort, who had much to do with the conversion of their husbands,
etc. That would also be a commonplace, would it not?
Yours, John Mundy
> Dear John Mundy,
> Yes, in fact mostly princes and kings. Although, it seems we
> are dredging up some evidence for women (albeit better known women).
>
> I am curious as to what you mean by "personalized religion",
> in how it relates to the early Danish saints being royal rather than
> "normal"?
>
> As I've done research on the conversion up here in the north,
> I've noticed that women play a significant role in the development
of religious customs, etc - and there were no more men than women in
the early stages of Christianization! I do not believe, personally,
that the converts were all for political reasons - especially
through my work on Sweden. However, I might concede that it appears
(in Denmark at least) that early saints' cults seem to be based on
politics.
>
> Sara Ellis
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