The Song of Songs

I don't know which amazes me more: that Hebrew erotic poetry ended up in our canon of Scripture, or what people managed to make of it.

I'd just love to see the "spiritual" interpretations of Catullus or Sappho.

GratiaCorpusChristi said:

I don't know which amazes me more: that Hebrew erotic poetry ended up in our canon of Scripture, or what people managed to make of it.

I'd just love to see the "spiritual" interpretations of Catullus or Sappho.

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Why do say?

GratiaCorpusChristi said:

I don't know which amazes me more: that Hebrew erotic poetry ended up in our canon of Scripture, or what people managed to make of it.

I'd just love to see the "spiritual" interpretations of Catullus or Sappho.

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It's a great poem!
Not read Catullus but Sappho's stuff's pretty interesting.

Look forward to seeing what people have to say

I think that when young Jewish boys were learning the Scriptures, they were forbidden from reading Song of Songs until they were of a certain age (13?) because it was so erotic.

It is interesting to think about that in the midst of all of these other accounts, lessons and narratives, we have a book in there that's an erotic love poem. That said, I believe God wanted it in the canon for a reason.

Has anyone heard of the Song of Solomon course? It's a relationship video series based on the Scriptures and it extrapolates lessons from the poetry. Kind of an interesting use of the Song of Songs.

I always thought Solomon's Song spoke more to how a man and a woman ought to love one another than to any convoluted extrapolation about how we ought to love the Church. I love the Church but I don't want to make love to it, unless I really twist these words beyond their simple, beautiful intent.

persue God, as a man persues a woman, Tommy Tenny -- God chasers

husbands love wives, as Jesus loves the church -- Agape

every day, what can I do better, different, change to make the relationship better...Paul , daily meditate, forgive, wash, cleanse with the Word of God

edification.... speak words that build up, morally and spiritually, that foster the relationship, that strengthen the bonds of marriage covenant

Just because it's there, doesn't mean we HAVE to read it

GratiaCorpusChristi said:

I don't know which amazes me more: that Hebrew erotic poetry ended up in our canon of Scripture, or what people managed to make of it.

I'd just love to see the "spiritual" interpretations of Catullus or Sappho.

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There is nothing inherently wrong in the erotic; it is one aspect of love. There is Friendship, Affection, Eros and Charity; if you allow me to borrow from C.S. Lewis. Each one of them has its dangers, perhaps even Charity as we often fool ourselves calling Charity what isn't worthy of that name.

E.C. said:

Just because it's there, doesn't mean we HAVE to read it

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That used to be the Catholic position when they did not allow the common people to read it by themselves.

sbvd said:

That used to be the Catholic position when they did not allow the common people to read it by themselves.

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There is a difference between oppression and illiteracy.

ALL scripture is useful for teaching. Certainly, the fathers of the Church did not include the Song of Solomon and expect us to ignore it.

E.C. said:

Just because it's there, doesn't mean we HAVE to read it

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sbvd said:

There is nothing inherently wrong in the erotic; it is one aspect of love. There is Friendship, Affection, Eros and Charity; if you allow me to borrow from C.S. Lewis. Each one of them has its dangers, perhaps even Charity as we often fool ourselves calling Charity what isn't worthy of that name.

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Never said there was anything wrong with the erotic. I just think it's funny.

The book does talk about Sex but I also believe that it is the way that God intended for us to live our married lives as well.

sbvd said:

That used to be the Catholic position when they did not allow the common people to read it by themselves.

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When did the Catholic Church forbid the laity from reading Scripture?

MrPolo said:

When did the Catholic Church forbid the laity from reading Scripture?

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At the same time as it was burning non-Catholics, worshipping Mary, and declaring that Limbo was dogmatic truth.

Good times.

MrPolo said:

When did the Catholic Church forbid the laity from reading Scripture?

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When it vehemently oppose efforts to translate it.

Annolennar said:

At the same time as it was burning non-Catholics, worshipping Mary, and declaring that Limbo was dogmatic truth.

Good times.

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1.- Your sarcasm is not appreciated.

2.- Do you consider that burning Catholics who have fallen into heresy a reason for mockery?

sbvd said:

When it vehemently oppose efforts to translate it.

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Which translations? And now is your statement that the Church forbid the laity to read certain translations (instead of the earlier statement that the Church forbid the laity to read Scripture period)?

MrPolo said:

Which translations? And now is your statement that the Church forbid the laity to read certain translations (instead of the earlier statement that the Church forbid the laity to read Scripture period)?

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Pray, tell me, how many Spanish translations were available to the Catholic people before 1790?

It is the same statement. There are ways to effectively impede somebody to leer los textos sagrados. Efectivamente, cuando desde las máximas instancias de la jerarquía se hace todo lo humanamente posible para impedir las traducciones que acercaran al pueblo.

I like it and I read it often. Especially the parts of not straying too far from the fold and how God views his Saints that he can't help but be infatuated with them.