Perpetua, Felicity, and Martrys

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Perpetua, Felicity, and Martrys
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Martyrs

• Sporadic (not constant!) persecutions of
  Christians
• Suspected persons asked to offer a sacrifice to
  the emperor (wine or grain offering)
• If they refused, could be put on trial and
  executed
• Ironically, fed growth of Christianity
• Radical witness
• Meaning
• Means of salvation
• Imitation of Christ par excellence
• Baptism of blood (faithful unto death)
• Model for others
• Encouragement
• But not necessarily to be imitated see editor of
  Perpetuas story

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Questions

• Do you agree with Perpetuas actions or not? Why?
• How would you compare Perpetuas actions to those
  of contemporary martyrs?
• The tank man, Tianamen Square, 1989
• Buddhist monks self-immolation, 1963
• Archbishop Romero, 1980
• Is it proper for her to rejoice in her immanent
  execution? Why or why not?
• Is it better to live or die for ones beliefs?

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Perpetuas community

• Very mixed male and female friendships, slaves
  and nobles
• Montanist group
• Open to ongoing work of Holy Spirit (see intro)
• Prophets and leaders could be male and female
• Emphasis on visions, prophecies (speaking
  messages from Holy Spirit)
• Editor of Perpetuas story (wrote intro and
  conclusion) shows these themes

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Themes

• Family division
• Christians are a new kind of family
• Ideas of discipleship
• Special kind of imitation of Christ
• New kind of Christian literature
• What did it mean to 3rd century audience?
• Gender subversion
• Men and women leaders together
• Perpetua becomes male athletic, courageous
• Disobedient mothers

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For next time

• Longer readings, but interesting
• Focus on Norris article
• Electronic reserve password kloos
• How does she define virginity?
• Does she make these stories more relevant today?
  Why or why not?
• Thecla How is she feminine? How is she masculine?