YoVDO

The Acts of Paul and Thecla: Asceticism and Female Heroism in Early Christianity - Lecture 20

Offered By: Yale University via YouTube

Tags

Religious Studies Courses Gender Studies Courses New Testament Courses

Course Description

Overview

Explore a 49-minute lecture from Yale University's Introduction to New Testament course that delves into the Acts of Paul and Thecla. Examine how this early Christian text presents a narrative similar to Greco-Roman novels, but with a focus on asceticism and purity. Analyze the anti-marriage and anti-family message within the story, and how it challenges the cycle of sex, birth, death, and decay prevalent in the ancient world. Consider the possibility of interpreting the text from a feminist perspective, given Thecla's emergence as the true hero. Investigate the literary context, the gospel of asceticism, sexual hierarchy in ancient culture, and early Christian views on asceticism as a response to mortality. Conclude by examining Thecla's role as the heroine of the narrative.

Syllabus

- Chapter 1. The Acts of Paul and Thecla in Its Literary Context
.
- Chapter 2. The Gospel of Asceticism in the Acts of Paul and Thecla
.
- Chapter 3. The Cultural Phenomenon of Sexual Hierarchy
.
- Chapter 4. The Early Christian Answer to the Cycle of Birth and Death: Asceticism
.
- Chapter 5. Thecla, the Heroine
.


Taught by

YaleCourses

Tags

Related Courses

Mujeres coraje. Desafíos en la historia
Universitat Jaume I via Independent
Representaciones culturales de las sexualidades
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona) via Coursera
紅樓夢-母神崇拜 (The Red Chamber Dream (2))
National Taiwan University via Coursera
Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change
Case Western Reserve University via Coursera
Sexing the Canvas: Art and Gender
University of Melbourne via Coursera