>
> On Thu, 28 Nov 1996, michael goodich wrote:
>
> > I guess I'm calling for some discussion of the motives and prejudices
> > involved in our engagement with medieval religion. I personally have no
> > objection whatsoever about the conference announcement, since I really
> > don't doubt that 'gayness' (and fear thereof) is also a component (yet to
> > be investigated) of sainthood, monasticism, pilgrimage, penance, and a
> > host of other topics we've been discussing here.
> >
> > Michael Goodich
>
> I don't want to get into the matter of gay vs. straight here on
> medieval-religion, but will note that over on mediev-l this past week
> there has been a good discussion of Richard I as a possible homosexual. I
> will say only that the discussion, as often framed by moderns, seems to
> deal in anachronisms.
>
This last note, I think, seems to be part of the issue for my knee-jerk
primary response (a poor way to de-lurk--sorry for that). Anachronisms are
just it: we clearly read the Middle Ages on our own terms, for what we
are interested in. I think that by decrying "ignorance" I was thinking of
only partly the academic aspect of the post--mostly it was a pedagogical
issue. Aside, that is, from whether a certain historical figure is gay, or
any academic interest in attitudes towards homosexuality in the middle ages
(which wouldn't necessarily validate sodomy), how do you know you don't
have students who are gay, for instance? How do they read you (plural--all
of us) or what you teach?
It seems to me that teaching needs to work both ways, that teachers are
learning in classrooms as well as students. to the extent that this is so,
one needs to be willing to listen and change one's mind occasionally. Do
you find sodomy personally or philosophically repellent? Well--then all the
more reason to check yourself, realize that your response by definition
**prohibits** learning, and listen and maybe learn. That 18-20 year olds
can't do this is one thing. that someone feels that they have license to do
this on a list which is by definition academic--set up for the purpose of
learning--amazes me.
IN response to mr. goodich's question, then, even as a
lurker I am here to learn from a community of interested people who ask and
inquire, and the subject matter happens to be medieval religion. Such
responses, I think, shut this process down.
unless, of course, the poster wanted to start just this discussion :)
--
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Derrick G. Pitard [log in to unmask]
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