Luciferian Piety: Representations of Ascetism in "Cathar Lepzet"
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| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | While antinomian orgies are generally known part of the high medieval notions of heretical devil worship, notions of ascetism within the alleged diabolical sects are more obscure topic. In this paper I will discuss motives of heretical penitence, which appear in the probably fictional „Deposition of Cathar Lepzet,“ a text closely related to the anti-heretical campaign of Conrad of Marburg in the early 1230’s. I will show, that the text not only contains notions of ascetic practice performed in the honour of Lucifer, but also notions of anthropologically interesting rationale for such practice. According to the text, the heretics believed, that by fasting and penitence, they help Lucifer to overthrow God and regain the heavenly throne. This notion, which significantly differs from the christian doctrines of penitence as an instrument of correction of a sinner, will be discussed in the context of the medieval perception of religion, magic, and superstition. |
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