Zifferelli’s Brother Sun Sister Moon
The film Brother Sun Sister Moon starts as Francis returns home. Where is he coming from? In what state is he coming? In which ways is his comeback ambiguous? What does it bring to mind?
Francis changes throughout the film. What major changes does he undergo? How is his conversion portrayed?
Comment on the theme of love in the film Brother Sun Sister Moon.
Comment on the theme of war in the film Brother Sun Sister Moon.
Comment on the theme of family in the film Brother Sun Sister Moon.
How is Francis shown in the film Brother Sun Sister Moon? What kind of person is he?
Does Francis of the film Brother Sun Sister Moon have a message? Agenda? Teachings? What are they?
Does the film “Brother Sun Sister Moon” have an agenda? What is it?
Diogenes
-what do you know about Diogenes?
-what roles did Diogenes assume in his life?
-who or what are the targets of Diogenes?
-What is asceticism? Can we consider the life of Diogenes an ascetic life?
What can you say about his asceticism (if any)?
--How does Diogenes participate in the social life? What are his interactions with the people?
--What is his attitude to the authorities?
-Comment on a notion of a cynic as a dog. Why do you think there was this connection?
-What are the most prominent characteristics of the Cynic?
-How did the cynics excite scorn/censure?
St. Francis
-Do you think St. Francis is still important in our society? Why?
--Comment on St. Francis conversion to what we might call a radical Christianity.
--Was St. Francis unique in his life style and teachings?
--Comment on the meaning of the holy fool’s nudity.
--What was the core of St. Francis’ teachings?
--What can you say about the time of Francis’ life and teachings?
-- Franciscan is a mendicant order, but what was/is their attitude to work?
--Who was St. Clare?
--How was St. Francis different from mainstream Christians of his time?
--Was St. Francis a holy fool?
Russian Fools for Christ
XIX century Russian literature:
Tolstoi’s Grisha
-How is Tolstoi’s holy fool Grisha treated/perceived by people around him?
-Who in the family can understand what the holy fool Grisha is saying? And who cannot? How can we interpret this fact taking into consideration what we know about holy foolish paradigm?
-How does Grisha behave when he is alone?
Dostoevsky’s Semyon Yakovlevich
-How is Semyon Yakovlevich different from other holy fools we read about? Comment on his background and lifestyle.
How is he in line with the paradigm of holy foolishness?
-Discuss the discourse of Semyon Yakovlevich. Who are the people he deals with? What are his reactions to them?
Dostoevsky’s Stinking Lizaveta
-What is saintly about Stinking Lizaveta? Why do you think she was seen by the community as a fool for Christ?
-What is Dostoevsky’s opinion of Lizaveta? Do you think he regards her an ascetic or a truly insane individual? Why do you think so? Does it matter in this context?
-How would you interpret the governor’s opinion that Lizaveta was “an offence to public decency”?
Turgenev’s “Strange story”
-What role does foolishness in Christ play in the “Strange story”?
-Why do you think the story has such a title?
-What can you say about the characters in this story? Who is the main character?
-Is this story believable?
-What is the main conflict in this story?
St. Andrew the Fool
--Why was the life of St. Andrew the fool so popular in Russia?
--Comment on Andrew’s conversion /initiation to holy foolish asceticism.
--What happens to Andrew in the church of St. Anastasia? Explain the following words of St. Anastasia: "a partaker of many good things in my kingdom has cured him so that he has no need of any other remedy but will become to the Lord a chosen instrument, holy and beloved in spirit." (21)
--Which of Andrew’s actions are reminiscent of / are modeled on those of Simeon?
--Is St. Andrew an ascetic?
--What are St. Andrew’s most salient characteristics?
Russian holy fools:
--comment on Isaak’s apparition. What importance did this incident have to Isaak’s life? How does it characterize Isaak?
--what happens to Isaak after he is defeated by the devil? Describe his period of transition; his further behaviour and strife.
--is Isaak a hf? If so, what characteristics of the hf does he have?
--holy foolishness is the core of life of its practitioners (Simeon, Andres, Isidora, Serapion). Is it such in the life of Isaak?
Feodosii:
-What is Feodosii’s link with Isaac?
-Comment on Feodosii’s asceticism.
-Comment on Feodosii’s holy foolishness.
-comment on Feodosii as a figure of authority. Where does his authority proceed from?
-What is the importance of St. Feodosii in Russian spirituality /literature/ culture?
There were several paradigms of Foolishness for Christ. Consider Isidora, Serapion, Alexis, Simeon, Andrew. What are the affinities between their characteristics? What are the differences?
How are Russian fools presented in their vitae? Are their lives in line with their Byzantine prototypes? What are the differences?
Is Prokopii’s holy foolish asceticism obvious or secret? How do people perceive him? How does their perception/treatment of the iurodivyi characterise them?
Comment on prophesies and symbolic actions found in Prokopii’s life. Does he resemble a Hebrew prophet? In which ways?
Is Prokopii an ascetic?
Nikola Kochanov and Fedor of Novgorod.—What is interesting about these two holy fools?
Who is St. Basil the Blessed? What do you know about this fool for Christ? Does he resemble any of his Byzantine predecessors?
How do the Russian and Byzantine fools for Christ differ?
How is Nikola Salos portrayed in the episode of his encounter with Ivan the Terrible? How do we know that Nikola is a holy fool?
Comment on Nikola’s offering to Ivan the Terrible. Why does Nikola do it? What is Ivan’s reaction?
How does Ivan the Terrible react to the prophesy of Nikola Salos?
What does the word asceticism mean? Where does it come from? Does this term refer to a uniform phenomenon?
Who were the stoics? What do you know about their philosophy? Who were the representatives of this movement?
--what questions does Marcus Aurelius address in his Meditations?
--Do the writings of Marcus Aurelius contain a practical advice? Is it universal or individual? Does it apply to us? Is it appealing/ interesting/ worthwhile? What does it say about the author—his problems, goals/aspirations, values?
--How do you understand the words of St. Paul, "For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power." (1 Cor. 1:18) What does St. Paul's references? Who are his addressees?
-What does St. Paul mean when he proclaims "the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God." (1 Cor. 1:19)?
Ware:
What does the word asceticism signify in the contemporary world?
What is Ware’s argument when he compares asceticism to the liberation/freedom. Why is the ascetic inwardly free? Do you agree?
What does Ware have to say about asceticism as a flight followed by a return?
How does the ascetic/monk contribute to the social life?
Comment on the following citation from Ware: “Perhaps the more a monk thinks about converting himself, and the less he thinks about converting others, the more likely it is that others will in fact be converted.”
What kinds of asceticism does Ware distinguish? What is according to Ware the distinction between them (demonic and royal asceticism, natural/unnatural)? Do you agree?
What does Ware mean when he says that the goal of an ascetic is “not to kill the body but to kill the passions”?
Comment on the following wordings: 55/11: “mortify” or “redirect,” “eradicate” or “educate,” “eliminate” or transfigure”
Clark
Why was there a need for asceticism? – Citation from Susanna Elm: “Asceticism began as a method for men and women to transcend the limitation of humanity in relation to the divine.” Comment on this citation. What did the ascetics opt/need to transcend? What were their means and methods? (60/16)
What was the understanding of “the self” and its relation to God of the Stoics, the Cynics, and Christians? What is your understanding?
What were the motivations of the early Christian female ascetics? What were their roles in the Christian society?
What are the main stages of Antony’s Life? How does Antony progress in his spiritual life?
What was your favorite episode (if any) from the Life of Antony?
In what words and images is articulated Antony’s power?
Life of Antony was called a brave attempt at articulating evil. How is evil depicted in this work? What are its names, guises, actions?
What can you say about Antony’s asceticism? Is it negative or affirmative?
Does Anthony seem mentally imbalanced to you? Why or why not?
Although Antony is removed from civilization, is he cut off from society?
If Anthony had never left his cell, could he still be a good Christian?
Why does Antony need to first separate himself from society before he can minister to society?
Explore the theme of wisdom in this chapter: how is Antony’s wisdom introduced to the reader?
Why do the Greek philosophers come to Antony? Describe their reasons/goals. Also, describe the setting: landscape and the parties present/coming to contend.
How are Greek and Christian teachings juxtaposed in Antony’s dispute with the Greek philosophers? How are they presented, praised or scorned? What are the Greek and Christian understandings of knowledge and wisdom? What is Antony’s argument?
What makes Simeon leave his secluded ascetic life and go to the city? What does he want to do/achieve there? Why does he think he can undertake this (extremely undesirable for an ascetic) step? [Is he going to leave his brother and companion on his own will?]
What does Simeon do after departing from John? What are his prayers about?
What does Simeon do before / upon entering the city of Emesa? How is he welcomed to the city? How is he perceived by the children?
What outrageous acts did Simeon commit? Comment on his actions which are indecent, blasphemous, criminal, disturbing the city order, malicious. How were these actions perceived by the citizens of Emesa?
Why/how did Simeon intend to improve the moral life of the city through his insane ravings? Was he successful? What were his achievements? When did they become known to the people? Why were they not obvious to people during Simeon’s life time?
Find example(s) of Simeon’s actions which are first shown through the eyes of the onlookers and then their real sense is revealed.
When is Simeon viewed as an insane person? Give examples.
What does Simeon’s feigned madness allow him to accomplish?
Which of the episodes from Simeon’s life are reminiscent of other lives?
Which of Simeon’s actions (if any) are innovative?
What are Simeon’s miracles? How does he act after performing miracles? Why?
Which of the episodes/parts from Simeon’s Life juxtapose his endeavor to that of the regular ascetics? How does the text comment on the differences between the “regular” ascetic and holy foolish endeavors?
What attributes of a saint does Simeon have?
What were the motivations of Alexis for leaving his family/new wife?
Why within the system of values of Christian asceticism being a stranger in this world considered to be a virtue? When and how is Alexis shown as a stranger?
What is holy about Alexis? What are his virtues?
How does Alexis’ holiness become known to people? Do you think it was important for them to learn about him? Was it important for him to become known?
Serapion
Who is Serapion? What is special about him? What are his goals and achievements? What are his means?
Is Serapion portrayed as a figure of power /authority? What is the source of his power?
Discuss Serapion’s asceticism. Is it unambiguously Christian or does it have affinities with pagan (Greek) traditions?
Discuss Serapion’s means. How does he achieve his goals? Do his means correspond to your understanding of holiness? Are they commendable /holy? Why or why not?
How are Serapion’s eccentric actions justified in the text?
What was the most interesting episode from Serapion’s life? Comment on its meaning.
How do you understand the following words of Thomas Merton, “The essence of the spirituality of the desert is that it was not taught but caught; it was a whole way of life”?
The Desert Fathers had a simple life. Discuss their way of life and asceticism. What do we know about them?
The aim of the Desert Fathers’ lives was not asceticism but God. What do you think is meant by that?
The Desert Fathers withdrew from the society and were solitaries. Yet they actively practiced charity, hospitality and love for the neighbor. How did they do that?
Do demons play an important part in the sayings of the Desert Fathers?
Discuss the significance of prayer in the life of the Desert Fathers.
Evagrius described the monk as one who is separated from all and united to all. What do you think he meant?
How were the Desert Fathers seen by themselves and by the outsiders?
Do you think the Desert Fathers were revolutionaries? Discuss their rebellion and originality.
Do you think the Desert Fathers lived the Gospel? Illustrate by examples.
What was the place of Church in the lives of the Desert Fathers?
Michel Foucault
What is the great confinement? When did the great confinement start? What are its landmarks?
What kind of people found themselves in the walls of the Hopital General? Why in your opinion they ended up there? Who was targeted by this institution?
Discuss the concept of a marginal figure. What are the marginalizing factors? Give examples of marginal figures from our previous texts. Who are the marginal figures in the chapter from Michel Foucault?
On page 40 we are told that the Hopital General was “not a medical establishment.” What was it then?
What does Michel Foucault say about international import of the great confinement?
What events, sensibilities and considerations brought about the great confinement?
On page 54 we read about the failure of the Houses of confinement? What was the reason for failure of this establishment?
What were the theological/Christian underpinnings of fighting sloth by means of the great confinement?
What is the religious dimension/meaning of the problem discussed in Michel Foucault’s article?
Comment on the ethical meaning of the great confinement. (57)
Discuss the values, including ethical values, embraced by the Renaissance as opposed to the Classical world. (58)
How is the word ascesis (59) used in this article?
What does Michel Foucault say in his article about the ideas of ‘social happiness’ (63)?
