Perpetua IV: Questions

Here are some questions for discussion about the Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas.

Question I: What were the nature of Perpetua’s dreams / visions and what do they say about her spiritual beliefs and practices?

Related sub-questions:

Were Perpetua’s dreams / visions given to her by the Holy Spirit, were they stress-induced psychological manifestations, are they literary devices, or all or none of the above?

What messages would the record of Perpetua’s dreams / visions have communicated to third-century readers?

Can we infer from Perpetua’s reliance on dreams and visions that she was part of a Montanist or proto-Montanist movement?

Question II: What, if anything, can we infer about Perpetua’s understanding of the afterlife from her vision about her deceased younger brother (and, presumably, the understanding of the afterlife in the Christian community she had joined)?

Question III: Should we take Perpetua today as a role model?

Related sub-questions:

What should we make today of Perpetua’s spirituality of dreams and visions?

What should we make today of the theology implicit in Perpetua’s dreams / visions, particularly concerning the afterlife?

Should we be eager, as Perpetua and Felicitas were, for martyrdom?

Can you think of any contemporary analogues to Perpetua’s story that might edify the North American missional church and/or appeal to people who are indifferent to the Gospel?