Foolishness for Christ refers to behavior such as giving up all one's worldly possessions upon joining a monastic order, or to deliberate flouting of society's conventions to serve a religious purpose – particularly of Christianity. Such individuals were known as both "holy fools" and "blessed fools." The term "blessed" connotes both feeblemindedness and innocence in the eyes of God.
The term fools for Christ derives from the writings of Saint Paul. Desert Fathers and other saints acted the part of Holy Fools, as have the yurodivy (or iurodstvo) of Eastern Orthodox asceticism. Fools for Christ often employ shocking, unconventional behavior to challenge accepted norms, deliver prophecies or to mask their piety.
Parallels for this type of behavior exist in non-Christian traditions as well. The Avadhuta (Sanskrit), for example, the Islamic tradition of Qalandariyya and Malamatiyya Sufism and other crazy-wise mystics all display similar traits.
Certain prophets of the Old Testament who exhibited signs of strange behaviour are considered by some scholars to be predecessors of "Fools for Christ". The prophet Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for about three years, predicting a forthcoming captivity in Egypt Isaiah 20:2,3; the prophet Ezekiel lay before a stone, which symbolized beleaguered Jerusalem, and though God instructed him to eat bread baked on human waste, ultimately he asked to use cow dung instead Ezekiel 4:9-15; Hosea married a harlot to symbolize the infidelity of Israel before God Hosea 3.
I could kiss the she-fire
Just like a holy, holy fool
I could never think too much
Just like that holy, holy fool
I could see a bright, bright future
In the bottom of this coffee cup
I could spring up and down, up and down
Just like a jet boy out of school
Holy fool
(Take me there)
Holy fool
(Breath the air)
Holy fool
(Take me there)
Holy fool
(Breath the air)
I could pick up the pieces
And try to play by the rules
I could dig down deeper and deeper
Like a holy, holy fool
I could think there's no judgment
No control, no control, no
I could think the best times ahead now
Like a holy, holy fool
Holy fool
(Take me there)
Holy fool
(Breath the air)
Holy fool
(Take me there)
Holy fool
(Breath the air, breath the air
Breath the air, breath the air
Breath the air)
Holy fool
(Kiss the she-fire)
Holy fool
(Kiss the she-fire)
Holy fool
(Kiss the she-fire)
Holy fool
(Kiss the she-fire, take me there
Kiss the she-fire, take me there
Kiss the she-fire)
Holy fool
(Take me there)
Holy fool
(Kiss the she-fire, take me there)
Holy fool
(Kiss the she-fire, take me there)