How Should a Saint Act?: Rāmānuja and John of the Cross
Keywords:
Saints, Ramanuja, John of the Cross, Religious Community, Sainthood, Cultural Values, Srivaishnava, Roman Catholic, Hagiography, Ethical Dilemmas, Family Obligations, AsceticismAbstract
The article "How Should a Saint Act?" by Denise Marie Hanusek compares stories from the lives of Ramanuja and John of the Cross to explore how religious communities interpret saintly behavior over time. It highlights the tension between spiritual calling and familial duty, focusing on controversial episodes—Ramanuja’s separation from his wife and John’s break from his family. Hanusek argues that such narratives, while once accepted, can become ethically troubling in modern contexts, prompting reinterpretation. The article underscores how evolving cultural values influence the ways communities understand and present the lives of saints.
