The Care of the Self in Early Christian Texts

222 Pages·2017·2.487 MB·English

by  Deborah Niederer Saxon (auth.)

DEBORAH NIEDERER SAXON
The Care of the
Self in Early
Christian
Texts
THE BIBLE AND
CULTURAL
STUDIES
The Bible and Cultural Studies
Series Editors
Hal Taussig
Union Theological Seminary
New York, NY, USA
Maia Kotrosits
Religion Department
Denison University
Granville, OH, USA
TheBibleandCulturalStudiesserieshighlightstheworkofestablishedand
emerging scholars working at the intersection of the fields of biblical
studies and cultural studies. It emphasizes the importance of the Bible in
thebuildingofculturalnarratives—andthustheneedtointerveneinthose
narratives through interpretation—as well as the importance of situating
biblical texts within originating cultural contexts. It approaches scripture
not as a self-evident category, but as the product of a larger set of cultural
processes, and offers scholarship that does not simply “use” or “borrow”
from the field of cultural studies, but actively participates in its
conversations.
More information about this series at
http://www.springer.com/series/14449
Deborah Niederer Saxon
The Care of the Self
in Early Christian
Texts
Deborah NiedererSaxon
Butler University
Indianapolis,IN, USA
The BibleandCultural Studies
ISBN978-3-319-64749-4 ISBN978-3-319-64750-0 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-64750-0
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2017949196
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To myparents,Rayand Ann Niederer,whostartedmeon the
paththroughlifeandmyhusband,John,whocontinuestowalk
it with me.
A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First, I want to thank my parents, Ray and Ann Niederer for their unwa-
veringsupport.Itwastheirloveofeducationandmydad’sfascinationwith
Christianhistoryaswellasmyparents’opennesstoothersthathasinspired
my own study and research. They taught me that each idea or person I
encounterhassomethingtoofferthatwillenrichmyownjourneyandhave
thus shaped my own desire to engage with ideas or people who are easily
dismissed. I also offer my deepest gratitude to my husband, John, who
shares my own sense of curiosity and enthusiasm for the care of the
self/soul and has walked every step of the process of birthing this book
with me as well as the journey of life itself. Not only has he provided
unfailing moral support and encouragement especially when the task
seemedoverwhelming,hehasengagedincountlessconversations,reading
every bit of this book several times over and serving as my first and best
editor.
In addition, I deeply appreciate the members of my dissertation com-
mittee who helped me complete what served as the basis for this book.
I am grateful for the support of Albert Hernández who helped me to
understand the importance of historiography and cultural theory for my
work, and I am likewise very thankful to Frank Seeburger who helped me
understand the significance of Foucault for this topic specifically. Most
especially, this book would not have come into being without the support
of Ann Graham Brock. It was Ann’s enthusiasm for extracanonical texts
that allowed me to see the way that they complement those of the New
Testament.Infact,Iwouldnotevenhavethoughtseriouslyabouttakinga
class in religion without her captivating description of a course that
vii
viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
promised to introduce us to lost voices, particularly those of women, in
extracanonical,Christianwritings.Annhasbeenamentoreversince.While
writing my dissertation, she really went the extra mile at each stage of
formulatingideas,gettingthemonpaper,andeditingmultipledrafts,even
mailing me a Coptic dictionary when I was finishing up my project in
Tokyo!
ThecoeditorsoftheSeriesforBiblicalStudiesandCulturalTheory,Hal
Taussig and Maia Kotrosits, have also been extremely helpful. Maia’s own
work has opened my eyes to new conceptual possibilities regarding iden-
tity, and Hal came into the picture when I saw the flyers for A New New
Testament in the SBL/AAR annual meeting bags just after its publication.
IimmediatelyboughtacopyandstartedusingitwithvariousgroupsIwas
teaching.WhenIhadanopportunitytomeetHalinperson,hegraciously
offeredtoreadmyinitialworkonthecareoftheself/soul.Hehasbelieved
in its potential and has supported me in specific, innumerable ways
throughouttheprocessofwritingthisbook,carefullylisteningasnewideas
coalesced in my mind and helping me frame the content and articulate its
significance in substantive ways all while introducing me to new perspec-
tives that have pushed my work further along.
Inaddition,IhavebeenabletoarticulatetheideasthatIdiscussinthis
book with wonderful conversation partners and colleagues over the past
years, especially Lisa Schrader who has provided many opportunities to
copresent and try out this material with public audiences. In addition,
colleagues Ally Kateusz, Jan Duce, Karen Dumford, Gail Finlay, Sue
Humble,IwonaJezierska,SharonLittrell,LucyMcGuffey,ShirleyPaulson,
PollyStrovink,LisaandJohnVincent-Morrison,SherryWalker,JanaWatt,
and Stephanie Yuhas have all helped me work through and articulate my
ideasinsignificantways.WhenIwasstartingmydissertation,Lucywasthe
onewhofirstsuggestedIlookatFoucault’slaterworkandthenhelpedme
think through the Hermeneutics of the Self on a sunny park bench. Asthat
project has become this book, Ally has read each chapter and given
invaluable assistance in helping me edit the final draft, supporting me
through the last stepsof a long process. There are others whom I want to
mention as well. Karen Smith has helped me throughout the process in
invaluable ways particularly with grasping the nuances of materials in
French. Brian Hartman and James White also read and suggested
improvements for significant portions of this book. At the University of
Denver/Iliff School of Theology, coordinators Meghan Laurvick and
Arianna Nowalkowski helped with many details involved in bringing the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix
initial version of this work to fruition as did librarians Katie Cook, Laura
Harris,AliceRunis,DouglasBrown,DonnaGroben, andMichelle Kyner.
Inaddition,formerprofessors,GlenHilburn,JulioJiménez,AlanRobb,
and Anabel Newman planted the seeds for this book many years ago and
have continued to discuss my research. Other conversation partners in my
communities of faith and contexts of broader learning have also eagerly
engagedinconversationaboutthistopicandsustainedmeincontinuingto
articulateitsimportance.IwouldespeciallyliketothanktheOCWM(Our
Church’s Wider Mission) Committee of First Congregational UCC-Colo
rado Springs for funding as well as the members of Christ’s Episcopal
Church, Castle Rock, particularly those who participated in our weekly
service at 6 a.m. and listened to my latest developments over coffee. The
samegoesforthegroupofwomenwhometwithmemonthlyinColorado
Springstodiscuss A NewNew Testament and furtheredmy ownthinking.
Iwillneverforgetthejoyofhearingthesoundsofawindowharpfromthe
breezecomingthroughthewindowofSiriEverett’shomeaswereadlines
from the Odes of Solomon that discuss the Spirit of the Lord speaking
throughone’sownbeing justas“the windpassesthrough the lyre”(6.1).
Therearesomanyotherswholistenedhardandcarefullyaswell,andIam
so grateful for your support.
Myownfamilyandclosefriendshavealsobeenatremendoussourceof
strength: my brother David and his family, Shannon Black, Darryl and
Dorothy DeBorde, and especially my parents-in-law—George and Dottie
Saxon,brother-in-lawRobandfamily,JerryandFrancesBray,DavidBrock,
MaryKayCarlson,DickandChrisHall,theHayfamily,andmanyothers.
Allofthesefriendsandfamilymembershavediscussedversionsofthetopics
inthisbookwhileplyingmewithfood,coffee,orsustenanceandsupportin
various forms. In moving to Indiana, I have had many good new conver-
sationpartnersregardingthisbook.Ihavealso hadmany opportunitiesto
speak about the topics in these books through my participation in CFT
(Christian Feminism Today), the Tanho Center, and the Westar Institute,
andIwanttothankMarg Herder, MarkMattison,andMartha Vaughtof
CFT; Celine Lilly, Natalie Perkins, and John Rogers at Tanho, and
Cassandra Farrin, David Galston, and Perry Kea of Westar as well as Ann
Kish,LeahRumsay,SarahLund,A.B.andMaryRudy,andDianeandJerry
Zehr forlistening and helpingme flesh out ideas inthis book.
Lastly,PhilGetzandAmyInvernizzi,myeditorsatPalgraveMacmillan,
have provided wonderful support as has Subasree Sairam, the project
manager. There are also many omissions as so many people spurred my
x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
thinking and helped in ways too numerous to list, but I offer my deepest
thanks and appreciation to each person who has played a role in bringing
this book into being. However, in the end, I also acknowledge that any
problems or flaws with the final product are solely my responsibility.