tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29680163.post6964748564871366716..comments2024-02-28T12:04:11.837-08:00Comments on Jesus in Love Blog: Saints Symeon and John: The holy fool and the hermit who loved each otherKittredge Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617858676733169316noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29680163.post-10157486556277602192011-07-20T09:51:38.968-07:002011-07-20T09:51:38.968-07:00I’m also longing for more saintly pairs whose live...I’m also longing for more saintly pairs whose lives have happy endings, Trudie. At least Brigid and Darlughdach stayed lovingly together until a peaceful death in old age. I chose to highlight Symeon and John because there was a painting of them together in love. It’s extremely rare to find that. And I like the idea of “holy fools.”Kittredge Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617858676733169316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29680163.post-62741315737167172402011-07-20T04:01:10.491-07:002011-07-20T04:01:10.491-07:00What is it about us as humans that makes us so thr...What is it about us as humans that makes us so thrive on drama of the negative variety? I agree that Symeon an John could well be noted as the patron saints of split-ups - or maybe of co-dependents? Somewhere there's got to be a pair of lovers who are celebrated because they DIDN'T split up, and who weren't martyred, either...Trudiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17866513608442388870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29680163.post-56253825325815636742011-07-19T16:49:15.337-07:002011-07-19T16:49:15.337-07:00Trudie, you have provided some context and backgro...Trudie, you have provided some context and background for the story of Symeon and John. The early church was sex-negative compared to Jesus. Celibacy and asceticism, the spiritual need not be exalted as a superior spiritual path, but I do believe it is an equally valid spiritual path for those who freely choose it. In today’s world where consumption is glorified, I find the simple desert lifestyle of Symeon and John to be rather refreshing.<br /><br />After reading their dramatic, tear-drenched split-up scene, I was thinking of calling them the patron saints of split ups.Kittredge Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617858676733169316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29680163.post-84244613806778542632011-07-17T04:09:49.702-07:002011-07-17T04:09:49.702-07:00Not to keep beating the feminist drum, but there a...Not to keep beating the feminist drum, but there are some things that need to be said over and over again. The misogyny in our culture predates and exacerbates the homophobia. There is no way to avoid the fact that early Christianity, despite the totally opposite perspective of Jesus, bought into this. One need only look at the way in which even the four gospels of the Christian Canon, not to mention the Acts of the Apostles and the epistles, made either no mention or only passing (and sometimes derisive) mention of the female followers of Jesus. <br /><br />Although one can see in some of the early stories, such as the curing of the Centurion's "beloved servant" and the baptizing of the "Ethiopian eunuch" a few examples of Christ's (and his followers') acceptance of sexual minorities, the suppression of the totally obvious contribution of (as the book "Half the Church" points out)Christ's female followers really boggles the mind.<br /><br />Beyond this, of course, is the extreme erotophobia that apparently crept in very early in the development of Christian tradition. The mere fact that so many of the early Christians felt compelled to renounce their sexuality (hetero OR homo) and accept celibacy as the superior spiritual path tells us that the imbalance goes to the very root of their understanding of what Jesus was trying to say. Obviously, they "just didn't get it!" And most of them still don't.Trudiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17866513608442388870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29680163.post-24402781196629903692011-07-16T15:33:53.815-07:002011-07-16T15:33:53.815-07:00Yes, Josh, we LGBT Christians are “holy fools” get...Yes, Josh, we LGBT Christians are “holy fools” getting criticism from both sides. To most churches, we are way too radical, while most of the LGBT community thinks we are fossils, clinging to outdated ideas. <br /><br />The concept of “fools for Christ” goes all the way back to the apostle Paul, who writes in the Bible, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." <br /><br />Thanks to encouragement from people like you, I will keep on writing and spreading the good news that God loves everyone, including LGBT people.Kittredge Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617858676733169316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29680163.post-60608200733802551702011-07-16T12:10:54.324-07:002011-07-16T12:10:54.324-07:00I am struck by your comment that we face criticism...I am struck by your comment that we face criticism from both sides. It's the truth; and it hurts. <br /><br />But having a guide to point out the truth makes the sting go away. We know why LGBTs take offense at us: they reject the Church that rejects them. And they're right to do so.<br /><br />It's our job to tell our own kind that Jesus is not a fundamentalist, that he wouldn't be caught dead being that stupid, that he likes how we are, and wishes the deepest communion for us. <br /><br />Ms. Kit, you write well. You've got that Gospel thing going, so don't ever stop.Josh Thomas (Indiana)http://dailyoffice.org/noreply@blogger.com