As ardent Christians sought to establish a closer union with God, they sometimes

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Ardent Christians did indeed practice all of the above methods in seeking a closer union with God. Flogging themselves was a form of self-flagellation, which was seen as a way to purify the body and soul. Eating only herbs was a form of strict fasting, which was believed to bring one closer to God by denying earthly pleasures. Some individuals also wore spiked corsets in order to inflict pain upon themselves and atone for their sins. Finally, living atop a high column was a practice known as pillar-sainthood, in which a person would isolate themselves on a column or pillar for years at a time in order to focus solely on their spiritual devotion.

As Ardent Christians Sought to Establish a Closer Union with God