"Not really. Christian monks and pilgrims used to whip themselves to "mortify the flesh." And that was just a few hundred years ago. No contradiction."
Yes and no. This "christian" practice was extra-Biblical, and, in fact, similiar early practices were criticised as unnecessary and distracting by St. Paul. (Although he did say to tolerate them, to a limited degree.)
"Yes and no. This "christian" practice was extra-Biblical, and, in fact, similiar early practices were criticised as unnecessary and distracting by St. Paul. (Although he did say to tolerate them, to a limited degree.)
"
Nevertheless, Christians did them. That's my only point on the subject. I'm not making a judgment on whether the practice had Biblical support...only pointing out that such practices are not so alien, after all.