Kate Powell
Environmental Thought in Antiquity
Moodle Forum Post:
THE VISIONARY Hildegard of Bingen WHATSHERNAME Podcast
I find it very interesting that Hildegard was able to establish herself and gain power through her religion. Especially with Christianity, religion seems to give men the power. Look at the catholic church for example, women are not permitted to serve as high-ranking members of the clergy or gain active roles. Christianity has reinforced the stereotypical gender roles from late antiquity, emphasizing passivity and not promoting or offering females a position of power or place in the church besides under a male; and I think this makes her success and renown ever more unprecedented and extraordinary.
I also think its interesting that her visions were supported and positive in this period of time and cultural makeup. Professor Gilbert has mentioned in class before the difference in schizophrenia visions across cultures. Supporting this point “Stanford anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann found that voice-hearing experiences of people with serious psychotic disorders are shaped by local culture – in the United States, the voices are harsh and threatening; in Africa and India, they are more benign and playful” (Parker). I feel that it is possible she was experiencing schizophrenic hallucinations and find it even more interesting that her life of cut off from society in a monastery helped culture these visions.
Sources:
Parker, Clifton; “Hallucinatory 'voices' shaped by local culture, Stanford anthropologist says”; Stanford News; July 16, 2015