Following on [in a way] from exchanges on Nixey's book The Darkening Age one wonders why certain individuals within some early Christian communities were so averse to any form of physical pleasure.
Why did some people feel the need to live in squalor amongst their own dirt on pillars, in barrels suspended between poles, or in caves?
Why did Antony feel it necessary to live in a hole in the ground for some years?
What was so wrong about being clean, having a reasonable amount of food [I am not referring to gourmands and gluttony] of living in a proper dwelling, or of being [if one wished] in a stable and monogamous relationship?
Why did these people think their God wanted them to be permanently tormented, ill-fed, filthy, and ill-kempt?
What ultimate purpose did these individuals think it all served?
Why did some people feel the need to live in squalor amongst their own dirt on pillars, in barrels suspended between poles, or in caves?
Why did Antony feel it necessary to live in a hole in the ground for some years?
What was so wrong about being clean, having a reasonable amount of food [I am not referring to gourmands and gluttony] of living in a proper dwelling, or of being [if one wished] in a stable and monogamous relationship?
Why did these people think their God wanted them to be permanently tormented, ill-fed, filthy, and ill-kempt?
What ultimate purpose did these individuals think it all served?
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