Posted by Anthem at 4:25pm Aug 30 '10but we are discussing the language of religion in our American Movements class. Those of you who are religious or know more about religious texts than I do may have an answer for me..
The question is, throughout time, now and then, do you think that men tend to use more feminine language when writing religious passages? For example:
From Personal Narrative by Jonathan Edwards (deepest thinker of Puritans perhaps)
." The words seemed to me, sweetly to represent, the loveliness and beauty of Jesus Christ. And the whole book of Canticles used to be pleasant to me; and I used to be much in reading it, about that time. And found, from time to time, an inward sweetness, that used, as it were, to carry me away in my contemplations; in what I know not how to express otherwise, than by a calm, sweet abstraction of soul from all the concerns off] this world; and a kind of vision, or fixed ideas and imaginations, of being alone in the mountains, or some solitary wilderness, far from all mankind, sweetly conversing with Christ, and wrapt and swallowed up in God. The sense I had of divine things, would often of a sudden as it were, kindle up a sweet burning in my heart; an ardor of my soul, that I know not how to express."
As you can see there is a TON of feminine language that he uses in describing his relationship with God or his soul's relationship with God. Is this normal in religious texts? Is it ok for men to express themselves if it is about/in a religious nature? Perhaps this should be on Literature...
but rather, is it common...
The question is, throughout time, now and then, do you think that men tend to use more feminine language when writing religious passages? For example:
From Personal Narrative by Jonathan Edwards (deepest thinker of Puritans perhaps)
." The words seemed to me, sweetly to represent, the loveliness and beauty of Jesus Christ. And the whole book of Canticles used to be pleasant to me; and I used to be much in reading it, about that time. And found, from time to time, an inward sweetness, that used, as it were, to carry me away in my contemplations; in what I know not how to express otherwise, than by a calm, sweet abstraction of soul from all the concerns off] this world; and a kind of vision, or fixed ideas and imaginations, of being alone in the mountains, or some solitary wilderness, far from all mankind, sweetly conversing with Christ, and wrapt and swallowed up in God. The sense I had of divine things, would often of a sudden as it were, kindle up a sweet burning in my heart; an ardor of my soul, that I know not how to express."
As you can see there is a TON of feminine language that he uses in describing his relationship with God or his soul's relationship with God. Is this normal in religious texts? Is it ok for men to express themselves if it is about/in a religious nature? Perhaps this should be on Literature...
added on 9:15pm Aug 30 '10:
Correction: Not is it OK for men to express themselves if it is about/in a religious nature,but rather, is it common...