medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Graham's contribution is fascinating and I hope this strand continues, but I
thought I'd offer a re-titling of the thread as (as happens too often on
such lists) the title 'Elizabeth' no longer reflects the content, and others
may not be aware of the latest twist in the plot.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jones, Dr G.R. <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: [M-R] Elizabeth
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Torie Reed writes of John the Baptist, 'he was, really, the first _alter
> Christus_'.
>
> Indeed, though could it not be argued that Jesus was, at first, the _alter
> Johannes_?
>
> Our attention was drawn, earlier in this discussion, to the evidential
claim
> that oral transmission in the first two centuries implicitly supported a
> tradition among his contemporaries of Christ's virgin birth. What seems to
> me equally interesting is that other evidential threads appear to
complicate
> the picture seriously.
>
> For example, how long after the death of Jesus did the Johannine and
> Christian parties run in parallel, or indeed in competition? What was the
> role of Jesus' family (on both sides), and particularly of Mary, in
shaping
> emerging traditions? Was there a contest between groups around Mary and
> Peter and what effect did that have? What was the interplay arising from
> tension between Samaritan and Jewish groups (not to mention Judaeans and
> Galileans)? - about which we hear much less than the tensions between Jews
> and Gentiles.
>
> The textual and iconographic references discussed here over the last
several
> days can be seen on one level to support 'traditional' interpretations; on
> another to reflect subtle uses of such material to set up particular
claims
> as to who Jesus was and how others were to be regarded in relation to
him -
> John the Baptist crucially, perhaps.
>
> It's likely that medieval studies have much to offer towards such
questions.
> But I write from ignorance, sensing only that if I was more knowledgeable
> about the early church, I would understand so much better the medieval
> material I work with.
>
> These are interesting discussions. Thanks, folks!
>
> Graham
>
> ****************************************
> Dr Graham Jones
> Lecturer in English Topography
> University of Leicester
> Centre for English Local History
> Marc Fitch Historical Institute
> 5 Salisbury Road
> Leicester LE1 7QR
> United Kingdom
>
> Tel: +44 (0)116 252 2764
> Fax: +44 (0)116 252 5769
>
> e-Mail: [log in to unmask]
> Web pages: http://www.le.ac.uk/elh/grj1
>
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