Early Christian Asceticism and Nineteenth-Century Polemics

Abstract This turn out explores how twain nineteenth-century writers who opposed the abstainerizing aspects of the Oxford Movement and roman worldwideity appealed to patristic writings. Anglican Isaac Taylor and Episcopalian Arthur Cleveland Coxe employed different rhetorical strategies: Taylor attempted to shock unsuspecting Christians about the certain olfactory sensation of Tractarian devotion to patristic Christianity, while Coxe, conversely, sought to explain off the asceticism promoted by the Fathers and align early Christianity with nineteenth-century domesticity. Coxe, American editor program in chief of the Ante-Nicene Fathers series, advanced his cause by adding anti-Catholic footnotes and elucidations to the Fathers writings. first appearance: Early Christian asceticism and Ninetenth-Century Protestantism Nineteenth-century Protestant scholars and divines faulted early Christian asceticism as turnabout to Gods plan for humanity and to conk B iblical interpretation. Renewing the Protestant Reformers attack on the ascetic body, they lauded domesticity, nineteenth-century style, as a supremely [End Page 281] Christian virtue.1 Asceticism in the patristic era, they charged, manifested Christianitys decline from an apostolic purity,2 while its revival in Catholicizing currents of their own day called for a new assault. This essay explores two nineteenth-century instances (one in England, one in America) of the eruption of anti-ascetic, pro-familial rhetoric against equalise perceived threats: the Oxford Movement and Roman Catholicism.

Asceticism, nineteen th-century Protestants charged, exhibited a ! funky and selfish spirit, exhorting Christians to flee the world rather than to puddle for its improvement.3 back up works-righteousness, asceticism opposed the doctrine of confession by free grace and faith alone, and the essential inwardness of Christian spirituality. It fostered an elitism that distinguished Christians on the basis of degrees of renunciation, contrary to Protestant notions of universal human sinfulness. promote superstition, it denigrated the role of women, home, and family. How thus to account for asceticisms rise, if it were so foreign to the true spirit of Christianity? Answers, often... If you exigency to get a full essay, magnitude it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

If you want to get a full essay, visit our page: write my paper