Christianity and S/M

[Michael McIntyre]

Not to mention the iconography of the Methodist hymns noted by E. P. Thompson in The Making of the English Working Class.  (Only the son of a Methodist minister would know those!)  But that skates on the surface - without a theory of the nature of a "sado-masochistic character structure" we have no way of saying whether Xianity fits under that rubric.  And that, I'm afraid, opens up a whole new can of worms.  Until that is done, this Xianity = S/M equation seems to me to be primarily an aesthetic reaction.

Michael McIntyre


>>> dhenwood at panix.com 05/22/01 05:07PM >>>
Guerino Calemine wrote:


>Someone please explain this alleged "sado-masochistic character 
>structure" of Christianity.  (Or as CB might put it, the Christian 
>nature of sadomasochism.)  I'm highly skeptical of this notion 
>(suspect it comes from a perversion/stereotype of Christianity - or 
>Christendom - and not based on "actual" Christianity, especially as 
>enunciated by St. Paul), but I'm willing to hear you out.  So go 
>ahead.

Hmm, well, let's start with Jesus. Outfitted with a crown of thorns, 
whipped, humiliated, crucified. Offered a vinegared sponge when he 
complained of thirst. Famous for his sacred bleeding heart. The 
faithful are supposed to identify with his suffering - and anticipate 
the eternal suffering of the wicked in Hell.

Doug