Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Religion

The House of Bernarda Alba: Authoritarianism vs. Freedom

The House of Bernarda Alba presents the conflict between an authoritarian, rigid, and conventional morality (represented by Bernarda) and the desire for freedom (embodied by Maria Josefa and Adela). This conflict manifests in a series of irreconcilable oppositions:

• Bernarda's stifling repression versus the explicit rebellion of her mother and daughters (best exemplified by Adela).
• The clash between traditional morality, concern for appearances, and the daughters' desire for liberation.
• The mismatch between the family's social reality and their desires, which leads them to frustration and rebellion.
• The rigid separation between the inside of the house, hot and oppressive, and the outside world,

Medieval Fiction

Between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, different types of narrative developed: religious and moral (Ramon Llull), history (chronicles), philosophy (Bernard Metge), and novelistic.

Ramon Llull

Life

Ramon Llull was born in Mallorca in 1232, just three years after King James I conquered the island from the Saracens. A descendant of a wealthy Barcelona family, he received a good education, enabling him to become seneschal at the court of King James II of Majorca. He married, had two sons, and cultivated troubadour poetry.

In 1263, as he explains in his autobiography, Jesus Christ appeared to him crucified. This vision led him to abandon court life and dedicate himself fully to converting infidels to Christianity through three... Continue reading "Medieval Fiction and Ramon Llull's Legacy" »

Key Dates in the Christian Calendar

• Christmas: December 25
• Advent Sundays: November 28, December 5, 12, 19
• Easter: March 28
• 1st Sunday of Lent: March 23
• Lent: February 4 - March 10

The Concept of Calendars

Nature has cycles that follow constant rates according to circumstances such as climate and geography. A calendar is used to tell the time limits set out by the sun or the moon.

• Solar Calendars: These are based on the length of time it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun.
• Lunar Calendars: These are based on lunar phases and consist of 12 months of 29 or 30 days, totaling 354 days. Only one calendar is strictly lunar.
• Lunisolar Calendars: In these calendars, the year lasts 365 days, but the months follow the phases of the moon, so each month has a variable

Saint Augustine argues that Christianity and being Christian makes us better people because we have God and everything that is attached to the good. Therefore, good and evil are two very important concepts according to St. Augustine, as was the commentary on evil and free will. All humans are born with the need to choose freely, but Saint Augustine knows that to be happy, one must choose Christianity, namely, choose events close to God. Those who are far from Christianity and God are near evil. To explain evil and free will, an example can be exposed through the book The City of God. In St. Augustine's book, there is a problem between Christians and pagans. He explains good and evil using a simile: the good (Jerusalem) and evil (Babylon). In... Continue reading "Saint Augustine: Christianity, Free Will, and Happiness" »

Metric: Castilian Lyric

In traditional lyric poems, minor art of different sizes, assonance, and rhyme predominate. Carols, composed of a chorus and verse, encompass two or three verses that are repeated. It is a poem of art minor verses, usually with assonance rhyme.

Jarcha

Most jarchas have four verses, with a widespread tendency to rhyme even verses only (although there is some cross-rhyme and common even rhyme). The next most frequent are two verses, and trísticos also abound, usually monorhythmic, but also of two rhymes. The most frequent verse types are hexasyllabic, octosyllabic, and heptasyllabic. The rhyme is generally consonant, though often imperfect.

Epic: Song of My Cid

Each verse is divided into two hemistiches by a caesura. Both... Continue reading "Medieval Spanish Literature: Metrics, Genres, and Church Influence" »

Catholic Reformation and Counter-Reformation

Counter-Reformation

This is also called the Catholic Reformation, promoted by the Catholic Church in response to the doctrine of Luther and the Catholic reformers. The Council of Trent laid the doctrinal foundations of Catholicism.

Reformation

The renovation of the church did not only appear with Luther. It had already begun within the church, but it would not be fully realized until the Council of Trent. One of the most important factors of the Reformation was:

Cisneros and the Spanish Reformation

The situation in Spain in the late fifteenth century was very different from the rest of Europe. The Reconquista struggle had created a warm and almost fanatic atmosphere, fighting Muslims and Jews. The union... Continue reading "Catholic Reformation and the Jesuits: A Historical Analysis" »

Celestina: A Tale of Love, Greed, and Tragedy

Celestina, published in villages in 1499, was written in 21 acts by Fernando de Rojas. Key themes include love, greed that drives servants mad, fortune and blind chance responsible for human tragedy, magic, time, and social upheaval.

Social Context: The Rise of the Bourgeoisie

The old social order, dominated by the nobility, was being replaced by the high bourgeoisie. Traditional feelings of respect and loyalty between masters and servants were giving way to economic relationships. This shift led to the configuration of a new moral code based on individual consciousness and the desire for freedom.

Space and Time in Celestina

The plot unfolds in multiple locations, both interior and exterior. Rojas masterfully... Continue reading "Celestina: Love, Greed, and Tragedy in 1499 Spain" »

Lent: A Time for Reflection and Renewal

Lent is the fourth liturgical season in the year. It begins on Ash Wednesday (a movable date) and lasts for 40 days. The number 40, 404, or 400 has biblical significance, representing a time of conversion. Humans are imperfect, and we must acknowledge the need for conversion, changing our attitudes to prepare our hearts to celebrate the resurrection.

Ash Wednesday: A Symbol of Life

On Ash Wednesday, we observe the imposition of ashes, a sign of life because our human works never truly disappear (ash is a symbol of life).

Repentance and the Gospel

"Repent and believe in the gospel" are the words of Jesus, helping us understand our reality and inviting us to change attitudes that are not life-affirming.

The essence... Continue reading "Understanding Lent: Meaning, Traditions, and Reflection" »

Understanding Romanesque Art

The style most representative of the art of the feudal era was the Romanesque, between the 11th and 12th centuries. It is named for its likeness to Roman art.

The First European Style

The Romanesque was the first international style, with common features across Europe. The Benedictine Order of Cluny in France played a significant role in disseminating the style, and from there it spread throughout Europe. The crusades also contributed to the spreading of the style: the peregrinations of masons and sculptors whose crews moved through the various European regions. Romanesque art was essentially religious.

Romanesque Architecture

Features:

• The use of stone as the main material
• Thick walls
• Cruciform columns and pillars
• Semicircular

Saint Teresa of Ávila

Saint Teresa was born in Ávila in 1515. Her father, Alonso Sánchez Cepeda, and her mother, Beatriz de Ahumada, were noble Castilians. She was the 6th of 12 siblings. Her father sent her to the convent of the Augustinian nuns in Ávila. Her brother Rodrigo and she had a special sensitivity to loneliness and prayer. At age 20, she ran away to join the Carmelite convent of the Incarnation. A year later, she made her religious vows. Shortly after, she had a serious illness that almost led her to death. She was bedridden for almost 3 years and lost the movement of her hand during that time. After this period, she regained her health. With the economic aid of her brothers, she founded the convent of Saint Joseph in 1562. Teresa... Continue reading "Key Figures and Events in Religious History" »