So, my class on Medieval Women Mystics was GREAT today. Here are some of the highlights:

Student (in response to another student's suggestion that Hildegard of Bingen was a prophet): "I don't think Hildegard could be considered a prophet, because if you look at the Old Testament, all of the prophets were leaders. I think that a prophet really has to lead people."
Professor (looks at student incredulously): "Ah, she was an Abbess. It was a big deal. She corresponded with Bernard of Clairvaux and FOUR POPES."
Student: "Yea, but..."


Student: "...I regard the Quran as a mystical text."
Professor: "I think that is a hard argument to make. You would encounter, ah, many difficulties with that one..."

Student: "Hildegard's metaphors for explaining the Trinity were, well, dumb."
Professor: "Really? Have YOU ever tried explaining the doctrine of the Trinity to 12th century, illiterate peasants!?"
Me: falls off of chair laughing.

Student: "Well, why do we have to assume that she didn't just know this stuff. I mean, she grew up next to a monastery. She probably made all of this stuff about visions up."
(Sometimes people forget they are in a theology class...)