Corpus religiosum. Body Markings in Latin Christianism
Research on body markings in a Christian context (here reduced to latin Christianism) offers a contrasting picture. The ways in which religious identity is inscribed in the body seem to exclude almost entirely – despite their presence in all religions across the world – the realm of intentional ritualistic body markings (mutilations, tattoos, etc.). The corporal anchorage point of a Christian habitus offers a broader spectrum, particularly through its exploration of the ascetic and penitential aspects of devotional excellence. The most commonly studied rubric is that of supernatural markings, of which stigmatization remains the most typical example. In this study, we attempt to understand this phenomenon through the specifics of Christian theology, all the while taking into account their interaction with general anthropological determinants of religiosity.