3 Christian states 1.Sacrament of marriage 2.The monastic state 3.Voluntary celibacy Suchon is advocating for the 3 rd state, voluntary celibacy which she refers to as Neutrality. On the Celibate Life Freely Chosen Suchons definition of celibacy “It is a condition without commitments, and it contains all other states potentially without actually putting them into practice” p.242 “That is why Neutralists are always ready to perform the humble and honorable practices of Christian life in hospitals, prisons, and other places where misery serves to stimulate charity” p.256  no commitments = can do good service for the public (army, hospitals, tutors)  ”the free condition is exceedingly useful to the world

On the Celibate Life Freely Chosen Conditions Needed to Live the Neutralist Life Successfully -Embracing modesty to avoid attracting the attention of the opposite sex. -A love of reading and study -Involved in charity work -Establishing close friendships 3 states of celibacy – Those who are their own mistresses, essentially the life lived by Suchon. – Those who live under the authority of their fathers yet have the same aspirations as those who are their own mistresses. – Those who live as servants under the authority of another yet have the same will and goals as those in the first two states.

Quotes “Although I have defined celibacy as a state without commitments, it is nonetheless an act of will, chosen by preference over other conditions” p.243 “Celibacy is an excellent condition that deserves to be loved because it is holy, not because it is free. Its detachment should excite our desires, not its gentleness and ease. We must seek it for its innocence, tranquility and separateness, not because it exempts us from considerable sorrow and grief. In a word it is a vocation that merits our respect and love” p.248 “The most dangerous occasions for sullying the soul’s purity and the body’s integrity are intense, private conversations with persons of the opposite sex; a languid and pleasure-filled life; and excessive freedon of the senses.” p. 260

Discussion Questions 1. Suchon says that widows should be part of this category of Neutralism as well. Suchon and Vives in this sense both agree that widows should be celibate, what are some other similarities about widows Vives and Suchon share, and what are the differences? What are some other similarities and differences Suchon and Vives have when referring to this chapter? “Take into consideration this quote on page 251. “we should include in this category those who are freed from the marital bond by the death of a spouse or by other circumstances and who take advantage of this freedom and spend their remaining days without making any new commitments. In this way, they become an illustiour part of the desirable state of celibacy, which, as a universal sanctuary, receives equally those who embrace it in their declining years and those who commit their best years to the state.” 2. Suchon shares her extreme love for books on pages , although, she doesn’t seem to mind that almost all of the books are written by men. Do you think she wanted to see more women become educated and start writing and publishing books like she did, or was she satisfied with them simply reading and studying books written by men? “Reading is the light of the mind, the power of the soul, and the joy of the heart.” P. 267

Discussion Questions 3. Suchon’s advocacy of women engaging in study, teaching and writing in their area of study along with her promotion of living without a husband or religion to protect themselves defies traditional gender roles which encourage women to remain silent and under the control of an authority figure (a man or the church). Do you think she purposefully avoided discussing how her ideas conflicted with these accepted gender roles to sidestep direct conflict with the status quo and affect practical change or is she ignoring that issue entirely and simply trying to argue her worldview? 4.Considering how in Chapter thirteen Suchon speaks against neutralists having “intense, private” conversations with members of the opposite sex who do you think she is advocating neutralists have as their close friends in chapter twenty- two given that the friendship she advocates requires an intimate understanding of one another? “The most dangerous occasions for sullying the soul’s purity and the body’s integrity are intense, private conversations with persons of the opposite sex” “Thus free persons must avoid overly frequent conversations”

Discussion Questions Suchon acknowledges that living a neutral life requires at least moderate means of financial support and time to devote to study. As she advocates this type of life as an alternative for those who can neither contribute skills nor financial support to cloistered communities is she contradicting herself as neutralists who are inclined to devote their time to study will, in the end, act as a financial burden for their families?