Every so often you come across an article that leaves you blinking and mildly astonished. Stephen Patterson's column in the current Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) had just that effect on me. First, news that "Christian cage fighting is a trendy new phenomenon among some evangelical churches... men exchange brutal punches and kicks to the legs, torso or head until one or the other 'taps out,' that is, begs for mercy."Say what?!
Then Patterson draws a line from this fine 'Christian' sport to male-on-male dominance in the Roman Empire. "Male penetration of another man was the quintessential act of domination - think imperial 'prison sex,' not gay sex." Here's the explanation for all that phallic graffiti that adorns the ruins of Pompeii.
Now you might be wondering where this is all going. First a diversion back to Sodom. Those despicable Sodomites weren't "randy homosexuals out looking for a good time. They simply intended to put the outsiders [Lot's angelic visitors] in their proper place."
Okay, that makes a good deal of sense. Patterson now changes tack to fifth-century Athens, citing Eva Keuls' book The Reign of the Phallus in support. I've had this worthy academic tome on my bookshelf for a number of years (somewhat obscured in its placement lest anyone casually browsing the shelves come away with an entirely wrong impression). |
| Stephen Patterson |
Just a colourful metaphor for the virtues of sexual abstinence or celibacy? No, says Patterson, it means exactly what it says. This was apparently seen as one way to opt out of a brutally toxic culture. Cross reference Galatians 3:28 (neither male nor female) and 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 (on hair length). States Patterson: "Paul liked his men and women to look like men and women, but his Corinthian protégés had taken 'no longer men and women' to heart."
And though I hate to admit it, I think Patterson has made a convincing case. Anyone who has studied early Christianity knows it was pretty diverse (a handy euphemism for "occasionally weird") but apparently it could get weirder than many of us ever imagined.
Fancy a trip back to "Bible times"? I think not.
Speaking of weird, evangelical cage fighters (assuming any of them are actually able to read) please take note!
I looked for the article and got this far:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/magazine/access-magazine/26/?access=magazine&pid=38803
Many magazines give you a small but non-zero number of free articles before you have to pay. That seems to be not the case with BAR. Does anybody have a way for us to see just this one?
I wonder if they could get Brad Pitt for the "Church Fight Club" movie?
ReplyDeleteKickboxing for Jesus?
Do you think there may be a niche for the Christ Fight Club in the Armstrongist Churches of God? Maybe Roderick Meredith can give some pointers....
This is rather ignoring the main topic, but it is worth mentioning that the "sin of Sodom" was not at all related to homosexuality and this posting suggests that the homophobic may have to drop Sodom and Gomorrah as "proof points" to maintain credibility -- not that they would care, of course.
This also seems to make it very clear that early Christian beliefs and practices were all over the map and perhaps not at all what most people think at all.
But then again, who knows for sure?
I think we've all known about the domination that takes place in the film industry, the music industry, and what goes on in prison, but I had no idea that this had stemmed from Roman times, or that it had implications regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. It does make a lot of sense from an historic perspective, and I for one am glad that it is somewhat anachronistic today.
ReplyDeleteOrigen was one of the eunuchs who literally followed Matt. 19:11-12. He ended up being one of the antenicene fathers who did not end up being accorded sainthood due to some of his unorthodox teachings, but he makes for a fascinating character study.
Elements of this post make one wonder if Rod Meredith was actually ahead of his time. It would certainly explain the Golden Gloves past, and some of the preoccupations to which he gave far too much attention.
BB