Comments on: Sex and salvation in the Gospel of Philip http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/ Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean houses my podcast, websites, blog, and publications, providing an entryway into social and religious life among Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians, and others in the Roman empire. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:14:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: tobias http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/comment-page-1/#comment-66676 tobias Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:14:44 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/#comment-66676 I found this video on the Gospel of Phillip intriguing http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1426748967/bclid1407533218/bctid1427347561 I found this video on the Gospel of Phillip intriguing http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1426748967/bclid1407533218/bctid1427347561

]]> By: Phil H. http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/comment-page-1/#comment-66653 Phil H. Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:06:27 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/#comment-66653 Bob: I didn't have space to deal with this, but the Gospel of Philip does in fact use the analogy of the temple in Jerusalem with its levels of holiness culminating in the "holy of holies" as another analogy for the process of initiation culminating in the bridal chamber = "holy of holies". So your intuition was right on track. Ariadne: Thanks for your comment. I think you may have misunderstood what my post was about. I did not say that the ritual bridal chamber involved actual sex; instead, the Gospel of Philip and those who engaged in the ritual used the analogy of the sexual union in the literal bridal chamber to express a spiritual experience in a ritual context. I'm not sure that male and female "fully realized the sacred marriage" if you mean real human men and women. For the Gospel of Philip it is the "image" (male) that unites with the angelic counterpart (female). Even "male" and "female" (as with sex) is used as a metaphor or analogy. You can't take things too literally in the Gospel of Philip, I would suggest. Hope this clarifies. Phil H. Bob: I didn’t have space to deal with this, but the Gospel of Philip does in fact use the analogy of the temple in Jerusalem with its levels of holiness culminating in the “holy of holies” as another analogy for the process of initiation culminating in the bridal chamber = “holy of holies”. So your intuition was right on track.

Ariadne: Thanks for your comment. I think you may have misunderstood what my post was about. I did not say that the ritual bridal chamber involved actual sex; instead, the Gospel of Philip and those who engaged in the ritual used the analogy of the sexual union in the literal bridal chamber to express a spiritual experience in a ritual context. I’m not sure that male and female “fully realized the sacred marriage” if you mean real human men and women. For the Gospel of Philip it is the “image” (male) that unites with the angelic counterpart (female). Even “male” and “female” (as with sex) is used as a metaphor or analogy. You can’t take things too literally in the Gospel of Philip, I would suggest.

Hope this clarifies.

Phil H.

]]> By: Ariadne Green http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/comment-page-1/#comment-66631 Ariadne Green Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:16:45 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/#comment-66631 Phillip's references to the bridal chamber have nothing to do with ordinary sex. It describes a profound spiritual experience where one is anointed by the light and realizes an internal condition of spiritual unity with God. One emerges reborn, male and female having fully realized the sacred marriage. Phillip’s references to the bridal chamber have nothing to do with ordinary sex. It describes a profound spiritual experience where one is anointed by the light and realizes an internal condition of spiritual unity with God. One emerges reborn, male and female having fully realized the sacred marriage.

]]> By: Bob MacDonald http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/comment-page-1/#comment-66626 Bob MacDonald Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:23:55 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2008/02/21/sex-and-salvation-in-the-gospel-of-philip/#comment-66626 What connection does the bridal chamber have to the Tabernacle in Exodus? And to the invitation to enter the Holy of Holies in Hebrews? What connection does the bridal chamber have to the Tabernacle in Exodus? And to the invitation to enter the Holy of Holies in Hebrews?

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