Early Christian Asceticism and Nineteenth-Century Polemics

Abstract This assay explores how twain nineteenth-century writers who opposed the severeizing aspects of the Oxford Movement and papistical worldwideity appealed to patristic writings. Anglican Isaac Taylor and Episcopalian Arthur Cleveland Coxe employed different grandiosityal strategies: Taylor attempted to shock unsuspecting Christians about the veritable centre of Tractarian devotion to patristic Christianity, while Coxe, conversely, sought to explain apart 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. universe: Early Christian austerity and Ninetenth-Century Protestantism Nineteenth-century Protestant scholars and divines faulted early Christian asceticism as turnabout to Gods plan for humanity and to punishing Biblical int erpretation. 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 revitalisation 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, nineteenth-c entury Protestants charged, exhibited a cai! tiff and selfish spirit, exhorting Christians to flee the world rather than to puddle for its improvement.3 boost works-righteousness, asceticism opposed the doctrine of confession by clemency 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. boost 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, battle array it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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