medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Angels may have transcended sex but my impression is that they remain
gendered male. In early Christianity, ascetics often tried to transcend both
sex and gender claiming that they could live and even sleep together without
arousal but more conservative opinion always frowned upon making the test
and ultimately forbade it. Men who attempt to avoid the test by making
themselves literal eunuchs are prohibited from ordination. The exclusion of
women from the priesthood as well as the present debate on gay priests
underline the idea that priests are still gendered male and expected to be
fully sexed as well.
Jo Ann McNamara
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Cannon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 5:04 PM
Subject: [M-R] angels and gender
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> A propos the fascinating discussion of Angels as Eucharistic assistants,
> am I right in thinking that angels and religious (not just those who
> were priested - monks, too) were both held to have somehow transcended
> gender? Angels, were creatures without gender; religious had left it
> behind by making their profession.
>
> I'm not sure how this squares with the many stories of monks avoiding
> contact with women, wrestling with desire, etc.
>
> Jon Cannon
>
> **********************************************************************
> To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
> to: [log in to unmask]
> To send a message to the list, address it to:
> [log in to unmask]
> To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
> to: [log in to unmask]
> In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
> [log in to unmask]
> For further information, visit our web site:
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
>
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|