Self-flagellation

Pain and suffering is a major part of some peoples' understanding of religion. Practices that induce pain have been able to transcend many different religions and cultures. While the methods used to inflict this pain may vary, the reasons behind this peculiar ritual seem to be very similar. A common goal of self-flagellation is the desire to emulate a certain prophet. Another main reason for this ritual is the idea that pain causes evil to exit the body. Self-flagellation is often seen as a form of punishment and penance. Despite the gruesome nature of this ritual, many cultures associate it with redemption and purity. While it emerged centuries ago, it is still a ritual that exists today in many parts of the world.

Magdarame (penitents) during Holy Week in the Philippines

Through the years, Christianity has formed a permanent tradition surrounding the doctrine of mortification of the flesh, ranging from self-denial, wearing hairshirts and chains, fasting and self-flagellation using the discipline.[6] Many Christians use excerpts from the Bible to justify this ritual. For example, some interpreters claim that St. Paul’s statement: ‘I chastise my body’ refers to self-inflicted bodily scourging (1 Corinthians 9:27).[7] There are many prominent Christians who have practiced self-flagellation. Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, regularly practiced self-flagellation as a means of mortification of the flesh.[8] Likewise, the Congregationalist writer Sarah Osborn also practiced self-flagellation in order "to remind her of her continued sin, depravity, and vileness in the eyes of God".[9] It became "quite common" for members of the Tractarian movement within the Anglican Communion to practice self-flagellation using a discipline.[10]

Historically speaking, in the 11th century, Peter Damian, a Benedictine Christian monk in the Roman Catholic tradition, taught that spirituality should manifest itself in physical discipline; he admonished those who sought to follow Christ to practice self-flagellation for the duration of the time it takes one to recite forty Psalms, increasing the number of flagellations on holy days of the Christian calendar.[3] For Damian, only those who shared in the sufferings of Christ could be saved.[3] Throughout Christian history, the mortification of the flesh, wherein one denies themselves physical pleasures, has been commonly followed by members of the clergy, especially in Christian monasteries and convents. Self-flagellation was imposed as a form of punishment as a means of penance for disobedient clergy and laity.[11]

In the 13th century, a group of Roman Catholics, known as the Flagellants, took this practice to its extreme ends. For example, it became a way to try to combat the plague through mitigation with the divine. The Flagellants were later condemned by the Roman Catholic Church as a cult in the 14th century.

This ritual was also found in 16th century Japan. Japanese of the time who were converted to Christianity by Jesuit missionaries, were reported to have had sympathy for the Passion of the Christ, and they readily practiced self-flagellation to show their devotion. The earliest records of self-flagellation practiced by Japanese converts appeared in the year 1555 in the regions of Bungo and Hirado in Kyushu.[12] These Japanese Christians wore crowns of thorns and bore crosses on their backs during the procession, which led to the place they had designated as the Mount of the Cross.[13]

Self-flagellation. Penitentes, Sergipe-Brazil, 2002. Photo Guy Veloso

Christians give various reasons for choosing to self-flagellate. One of the main reasons is to emulate the suffering of Christ during his Passion. As Jesus was whipped before his crucifixion, many see whipping themselves as a way to be closer to Jesus and as a reminder of that whipping.[14] Many early Christians believed that in order to be closer to God, one would need to literally suffer through the pain of Christ.[15] Saint Paul also alluded to inflicting bodily harm in order to feel closer to God in his letters to the Romans and to the Colossians.[16]

Self-flagellation was also seen as a form of purification, purifying the soul as repentance for any worldly indulgences. Self-flagellation is also used as a punishment on earth in order to avoid punishment in the next life.[17] Self-flagellation was also seen as a way to control the body in order to focus only on God. By whipping oneself, one would find distraction from the pleasures of the world and be able to fully focus on worshiping God.[18] Self-flagellation is also done to thank God for responding to a prayer or to drive evil spirits from the body (cf. Exorcism in Christianity).[19] The popularity of self-flagellation has abated, with some pious Christians choosing to practice the mortification of the flesh with acts like fasting or abstaining from a pleasure (cf. Lenten sacrifice).[20]

There is a debate within the Christian tradition about whether or not self-flagellation is of spiritual benefit, with some religious leaders condemning the practice and others, such as Pope John Paul II, having practiced self-flagellation.[21] People who self-flagellate believe that they need to spiritually share in the suffering of Jesus, and continue this practice, both publicly and privately.[22]

During the Middle Ages, Jewish men practiced self-flagellation on the day before Yom Kippur. Biblical passages such as “it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls” (Leviticus 23:27) were used to justify these actions. The author of a newspaper article whose sources are not named claims that men during the Middle Ages whipped themselves on the back 39 times.[23] However, since biblical times Judaism has largely considered Yom Kippur as a day of spiritual atonement achieved through fasting, introspection, and other interpretations of the commandment "afflict your souls" that do not involve bodily self-harm.[24]

Zanjerzani in Iran

Much of the Twelver Shia Islam community tries to emulate Imam Husain through self-flagellation in the same ways that the Christians tried to emulate Jesus Christ. This is exhibited through the public performance of matam. The Shia counterpart to a Christian flagellant was called a matamdar. This ritual of matam is meant to reaffirm one's faith and relationships by creating a deep bond among the participants through their shared religious devotion. Despite the violent nature of this ritual, the love and vulnerability associated with it makes it a fundamentally positive and affirmational ritual performance.[25] Many Shia communities worldwide march in massive parades every year on the Day of Ashura, during the mourning of Muharram, to commemorate the Battle of Karbala and the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. During these parades, devotees hit themselves on the chest or slash themselves with blades on chains called zanjerzani. Though it is uncommon, some Shia communities hit themselves on the back with chains and sharp objects such as knives. This happens in many countries including India, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, United States,[26] and Australia.

Self-flagellation is just as controversial in Islam as it is in Christianity. There was a case in Manchester UK where a Shia family forced their children to self-flagellation, which brought condemnation upon the entire practice. Muslims responded saying that forcing your children to do this is wrong, but the practice as done by a consenting adult should not be condemned as it is essential to their faith.[27] However, many Shia leaders realize that this practice, though only performed during Ashura, is another thing that could give the world a bad view of Muslims. Some leaders have recommended donating blood instead of self-flagellation in order to bleed in remembrance of Hussein's sacrifice.[28]

• Animal sacrifice
• Autosadism
• Human sacrifice
• Religious abuse
• Self-mutilation
• Self-defeating personality disorder