This has always given me a smile. How can this be good symbolism for Christianity? If they are married to Christ, then isn't Jesus a polygamist? Also, if I were to make a pass at a nun, would Jesus come looking for me to kick my @**?
Seriously, how did this term come about? What is Christian teaching concerning this?
This "nun of the above" question has been brought to you courtesy of Jack
2007-07-22 06:36:03 · 17 answers · asked by Jack B, sinistral 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I wish I was Jesus. I'd call Beyonce to be a nun. Then we would consumate our marriage on a regular basis.
2007-07-22 06:40:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
According to Wikipedia, the "Bride of Christ" is the church. But it also says "In the Catholic church, this image of the Church as Christ's bride can be transferred to nuns and consacrated virgins,[3] as can be seen from the title of the Australian television series Brides of Christ (1991). For some women, the image describes a more personal relationship with Jesus."
I was raised Catholic, and I remember the nuns telling the girls in our catholic education class that their highest aspiration was to become a "bride of christ" by becoming a nun. I always thought that was creepy -- mostly because the nuns were so creepy and severe. I thought Jesus would have better taste in women!
2007-07-22 07:06:51 · answer #2 · answered by anotherprofessor 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Much of metaphorical symbolism - in every religious tradition - sounds nonsensical or downright silly today - rather than retaining their original psychological meaning.
The Christ Self (one's essential nature) was often referred to as "the bridegroom," i.e. the bride (purified of body level identity) has be be prepared for the bridegroom. There were many ways of describing this true Self versus the learned egoic identity. In Islam the internal battle between the selves is jihad or holy war while Jesus' metaphorical symbolism required the "death" of the learned ego.
We have no contemporary language because psychology is still primitive and focuses on stabilizing it or moderating ego compulsions. Until the cause/effect relationship between being and reality is arrived at in a scientific context, the language/symbolism problem will continue.
2007-07-22 08:38:29 · answer #3 · answered by MysticMaze 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's obviously symbolic and there are many meanings and interpretations, not all of which I agree with, but I will remind you of the spiritual significance of the sacrament of Marriage, and this is where the clue lies.
If you go to that place where the spirit becomes flesh you will understand what is meant by "...the Spirit and the Bride say come..."
It is an arena of unity and a point of power.
It is the same 'place' where idea is wedded to matter. (Matter is feminine in nature. It's no coincidence that the word 'material' and the word 'maternal' share the same root.)
Christ, in this sense, represents the inner self and the nun represents the physical body.
2007-07-22 06:56:07 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
One of the Nuns here at the Catholic hospital where I work explained to me that it is not a "marriage" in how we view marriage, but more symbolic in that these women have devoted their lives to Christ and His Church as another woman should to her husband. Not in the polygamist manner of marriage.
2007-07-22 07:06:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
All of Jesus' Church is his bride---this consists of adult adult males and ladies folk---the bride of Christ that the nun friends herself with may be the epitome of his bride on the earth---sinless, organic, each and every thing this is interior the spouse Of Noble character. No you are able to not be his bride individually as this is barely for the female of the species right here on the earth.
2016-10-22 08:43:56 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nuns r not married to Jesus
2007-07-22 06:39:28 · answer #7 · answered by Unique 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The nun thing is just strange. There are several things wrong with it that I can't even begin to get into.
One of the many sources for nuns in the old days was for women that could not own property or that were sluts. (I mean not chaste)
If a woman was to be the sole error to property, which was illegal for centuries, then the state took her property and she would be shipped off to a nunnery if no one else would marry her. since women were chattel (property) then the church would assume ownership of this property.
Then is women were found to be not a virgin on their wedding night they were also sent to nunneries to be "dealt with" and to remove their shame from the house of her husband and her family.
2007-07-22 06:54:22 · answer #8 · answered by Atrum Animus AM 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
A) Get your mind out of the gutter.
B) Marriage is used in the same spirit as John used it in Revelation....and I saw the new Jerusalem, arrayed as a bride come down from Heaven.
C) The tradition is that a woman who gives her life to the sisterhood (whatever the order) is forgoing standard marriage. She is, in effect "marrying" Christ. It's totally spiritual.
D) And your concept of "courtesy" is as faulty as your concept of nuns.
2007-07-22 06:43:15 · answer #9 · answered by Granny Annie 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
They once used the symbolism of "brides of Christ" to perhaps point out that they were, indeed, marrying but not in the traditional sense and, therefore, not going to have children, etc. I don't believe that symbolism is used these days and marriage in and of itself is no longer considered the goal of many young women.
This IS Christian teaching as it is Catholic and Anglican/Episcopalian. We ARE Christians!
2007-07-22 06:44:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nuns are a tradition invented outside of scripture. Try looking up the word 'Nun' in any Bible.
2007-07-22 06:38:52 · answer #11 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋