Early Christian Asceticism and Nineteenth-Century Polemics

Abstract This strain explores how twain nineteenth-century writers who opposed the severeizing aspects of the Oxford Movement and papist worldwideity appealed to patristic writings. Anglican Isaac Taylor and Episcopalian Arthur Cleveland Coxe employed different ornatenessal strategies: Taylor attempted to shock unsuspecting Christians about the unbowed meat of Tractarian devotion to patristic Christianity, while Coxe, conversely, sought to explain deviation the asceticism promoted by the Fathers and align early Christianity with nineteenth-century domesticity. Coxe, American editor in chief in chief of the Ante-Nicene Fathers series, advanced his cause by adding anti-Catholic footnotes and elucidations to the Fathers writings. grounding: 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 near Biblical interpre tation. 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 revitalization 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-century Protestants charged, exhibited a afraid 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 invest and faith alone, and the essential inwardness of Christian spirituality. It fostered an elitism that distinguished Christians on the basis o f degrees of renunciation, contrary to Prote! stant notions of universal human sinfulness. encourage 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, company it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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