Sacred Pain

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the act of self-inflicted pain as an act of religious piety. The writer traces this expression starting with early Christians. Also considered are the ideas and beliefs behind this approach to religious observance. The author concludes that self-inflicted pain is an expression based on the need to separate the mind from the body, the pain serving to cleanse the soul from the evil or potential evil the body contains.

From the Paper:

"According to one of the leading researcher and writers on sacred pain, its history is a contradiction, as the concept of suffering and pain in the world has also led many to stray from faith, as they cannot believe in a God who would let so much pain exists in the world, without end, as the whole of human existence is marked by pain, both physical and emotional, and yet throughout history, there are countless examples of the infliction of pain to cleanse the soul, "Ascetics, mystics and martyrs have sought and applied pain--in rights of passage (ordeals) and other forms of initiation--in service of religious inquisitions (including trials by ordeal), execution of heretics and witches and others." (Glucklich 389) Absolution, in a place closer to God is the end, be it for yourself or the heretic. Glucklich also stresses that these examples of "sacred pain" are not limited to time or geography."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Flagellants" The Catholic Encyclopedia online at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06089c.htm
• Glucklich, Ariel. Sacred Pain: Hurting the Body for the Sake of the Soul. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
• Glucklich, Ariel, "Sacred Pain and the Phenomenal Self" Harvard Theological Review, Vol. 91, No. 4 (Oct., 1998), pp. 389-412.

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