Religious cope? Yes and no. You don't necessarily need faith to appreciate the possibility and psychological value of self-humiliation.
The Malamati current in Sufism (a sect of Islam) believed in systematic self-blame, self-humiliation. They would also engage in voluntary "bad" acts to endure hostility, shame, insults and bad reputation.
The Malāmatiyya (ملامتية) or Malamatis were a Muslim mystic group active in 9th century Greater Khorasan. Their root word of their name is the Arabic word malāmah(ملامة) "blame". The Malamatiyya believed in the value of self-blame, that piety should be a private matter and that being held in good esteem would lead to worldly attachment. They concealed their knowledge and made sure their faults would be known,
The Malamati are led to believe that the more energy put into satisfying the ego, the less energy there is available to assist one in advancing one's spiritual transformation. The aim is to transcend the nafs in order to first reach the qalb, the "repository of knowledge and emotions", whereafter one can elevate oneself to sirr, the spring of man's moral behavior. The ultimate goal is to reach the summit of ruh, ultimate union with God, at which point the self no longer exists.
All of the Malamati values and practices are attempt to humiliate the nafs with every action so that they may work toward a spiritual transformation. The "path of blame" requires that an individual always claims blame and hold his or herself in contempt.
The Malamati current in Sufism (a sect of Islam) believed in systematic self-blame, self-humiliation. They would also engage in voluntary "bad" acts to endure hostility, shame, insults and bad reputation.
The Malāmatiyya (ملامتية) or Malamatis were a Muslim mystic group active in 9th century Greater Khorasan. Their root word of their name is the Arabic word malāmah(ملامة) "blame". The Malamatiyya believed in the value of self-blame, that piety should be a private matter and that being held in good esteem would lead to worldly attachment. They concealed their knowledge and made sure their faults would be known,
The Malamati are led to believe that the more energy put into satisfying the ego, the less energy there is available to assist one in advancing one's spiritual transformation. The aim is to transcend the nafs in order to first reach the qalb, the "repository of knowledge and emotions", whereafter one can elevate oneself to sirr, the spring of man's moral behavior. The ultimate goal is to reach the summit of ruh, ultimate union with God, at which point the self no longer exists.
All of the Malamati values and practices are attempt to humiliate the nafs with every action so that they may work toward a spiritual transformation. The "path of blame" requires that an individual always claims blame and hold his or herself in contempt.
