medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Hi, George,
I seem to have a lot of recommendations for you lately. What are you
working on? Your recent questions make it sound like something I'd be
interested in.
With reference to your question: I'm just finishing up a book on the
discernment of spirits in the middle ages that covers a lot of territory
that could be considered "anti-holiness." I'm interested in how individuals
with reputations for supernatural abilities sparked divisive debates over
the sources of their inspiration: divine, demonic, or simply natural and
fraudulent. I begin with a discussion of these issues at the beginning of
the 13C- on the local community level, and eventually trace the escalating
concern with false inspiration up to the schism, Gerson's writings, and the
formation of the witchcraft stereotype in the 15C-. So, it's not precisely
sexual improprieties, but it is a kind og anti-holiness. Should be out next
year on Cornell.
I've published a preliminary overview of some of my work, which you may
find of interest as one section of the essay includes a number of examples
of individuals who were categorized alternately as saints or demoniacs:
"Mystics, Demoniacs, the the Physiology of Spirit Possession in Medieval
Europe." *Comparative Studies in Society and History* 42, 2 (April 2000):
268-306. You may also find helpful references in the footnotes.
There are a few other good examples that are not in the article. You may
know Judith Brown's *Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in
Renaissance Italy.* (Oxford, 86). This woman faked the stigmata and other
supernatural effects, and seduced her female companion by claiming that she
was possessed by a male angel (thus making the sex "straight.")
Best,
Nancy C-
01:40 PM 6/28/2002 +0100, you wrote:
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
>I am interested by this discussion, and in Dennis's latest reply. If
>anyone knows of published studies of types of claims of 'anti-holiness'
>(e.g. sexual impropriety) in medieval or early modern history, I would be
>grateful to know of them.
>
>All good wishes,
>George Ferzoco // [log in to unmask]
>
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