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

Religious and Philosophical Theology

Theology (Faith and Reason)

St. Thomas Aquinas established a distinction between religious truths of the Bible's revelation, which are the subject of faith, and philosophical truths that are the subject of reason. Claims like Jesus' death and resurrection cannot be known or proven by reason; they can only be believed and are the object of faith.

Aquinas, following Aristotle, holds that truths like God's existence and other aspects regarding the essence and attributes of God are capable of proof or rational demonstration. Hence, the possibility of a purely rational theology that serves as an introduction to the revealed or religious. The difference between them lies not in the object, which is the same for both... Continue reading "Theology: Faith, Reason, and Existential Perspectives" »

Medieval Prose Fiction in Portugal

Prose fiction encompasses two narrative cycles: the Matter of Britain and the Matter of Troy, as well as several hagiographic texts (lives of saints).

Matter of Britain

The Matter of Britain (Breton cycle) consists of texts based on the story of Brittany that circulated throughout Europe from the 12th to the 18th centuries. The stories revolve around King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Three main parts are preserved:

• Joseph of Arimathea: Tells the story of the Jew who collected the blood of Christ in the chalice used at the Last Supper (the Holy Grail), and God's mandate to take it to Britain.
• Merlin: Presents the prophecies of this magician, announcing the arrival of new times and a knight who will

Biography of St. Teresa of Ávila

Her life spans from her childhood to the founding of the first convent of St. Joseph of Ávila in 1562. It is known that during her childhood, she had a fondness for chivalric romances and the lives of saints. In 1531, her father interned her as a pupil in the Augustinian convent of Santa María de Gracia, but the following year she had to return home due to a serious illness. Determined to take the Carmelite habit against her father's will, in 1535, she left home to go to the Convent of the Incarnation. She received the habit the following year and made her profession in 1537.

Around that time, she entered a period of distress and illness, which lasted until 1542. During these years, she confessed that she learned... Continue reading "Religious Transformation and Conflict in 16th Century Europe" »

• Daughters Magdalena, Amelia, and Martirio resignedly accepted their fate.
• Adela's rebellion is evident from the outset; her desire for freedom overcomes the fear of maternal authority. Ultimately, freedom proves to be a mirage. With her suicide, the path to freedom is forever closed for her sisters.
• María Josefa shows her liberation through madness. Her confinement is even harder than that of the daughters, so her only escape is insanity.
• The servants live under Bernarda's stranglehold, ruled by fear, whispering only behind her back.

Other significant themes include:

Sensual Love: Almost all protagonists in Lorca's poetic and dramatic works are marked by impossible love and erotic frustration. In the play, Bernarda does everything in her power... Continue reading "Bernarda Alba's House: Themes of Repression and Desire" »

Liberalism: Religious Liberty and Separatism

Evolution Towards Secularization

Of the two principles in the modern age, there will be an evolution of liberalism toward the secularization of the state and separatism. The secular state will be separate from religion, and it will start to recognize the right to religious freedom.

There are two great liberal revolutions: the French and American. Both have declarations of rights that recognize the right of religious freedom.

Liberal revolutions have different characteristics because of their history.

The American Revolution

The makers of the revolution were not...

The formation of the colonies was done by immigrants fleeing religious intolerance in Europe who wanted peaceful coexistence.

These principles... Continue reading "Religious Freedom and State Secularization: US and French Revolutions" »

Phase 1: Early Persecution and Expansion

The speech of Stephen before the Sanhedrin unleashed persecution against Christians in the diaspora. Philip was active in Samaria. Another Jew from Tarsus (in the diaspora), who converted to Christianity after a meeting with the risen Jesus, Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, opened Christianity to thinking outside of Israel. The founding of the historic Antioch Church was a first and decisive step towards catholicity (universality). In this city, the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians. The first Jewish Christians practiced many Jewish laws.

Second Stage: Expansion into the Greco-Roman World

In Syria, the first Christian Hellenists formed. Another center was the city of Alexandria, a junction... Continue reading "Major Developments in Early Christianity" »

Canto X: The Proud

Entering the first terrace of Purgatory, the proud begin their slow ascent, burdened by the weight of their sin. Sculptures carved into the rock depict scenes of humility, a stark contrast to their prideful nature. The penitents, bent low like worms, bear the physical manifestation of their spiritual condition.

Canto XI: Prayers for the Proud

The journey through the first terrace continues, as the proud souls inch along their path. Prayers are offered for their purification, a testament to the hope of redemption that permeates even this realm of suffering.

Canto XII: An Angelic Encounter

A radiant being appears, guiding the way and revealing the steps that lead to the next level. With a touch of its wings, Dante feels lighter,... Continue reading "Purgatorio: Journey Through Dante's Seven Terraces" »

The Historical and Intellectual World of St. Augustine

Historical Context: The Decline of Rome

St. Augustine, born around 354 CE, lived during an age of profound upheaval. The Roman Empire began its marked decline during this period, spanning the reigns of emperors like Julian and Theodosius I. It was Theodosius I who, in 380 CE, declared Nicene Christianity the official religion of the empire (via the Edict of Thessalonica), effectively neutralizing polytheism and forcing all imperial structures to adapt to a new way of thinking.

This shift led to complex relations between philosophy and religion:

• Philosophy: Seeks to explain human dilemmas rationally and through common sense.
• Religion: Bases solutions to human dilemmas in faith and belief statements

Poetic Work and Literary Excellence

St. John of the Cross's poetic work constitutes a lyrical landmark in Western literature, noted for its loving intensity and literary excellence. The former prisoner sought union with the divinity through a language that, due to its insufficiency, required him to incorporate various poetic traditions:

• The traditional lyric
• The classical
• The Italianate
• The biblical

These influences are especially evident in the Spiritual Canticle.

Major Mystical Poems and Symbolic Language

The ineffable nature of mystical experience means that in the major works of St. John of the Cross, the poet has recourse to a symbolic language based on human love. The three major poems are:

• Dark Night of the Soul
• Spiritual Canticle
• Living Flame

The Fathers of the Church

Certain influential people who exercised great influence in the Church are identified by the name "Fathers of the Church." Their thought was born from the reflection on and study of the Sacred Scriptures and the philosophical thought of the Greek period. There are two groups of Church Fathers: Eastern and Western.

Eastern Fathers

Notable figures include those from Alexandria, John Chrysostom, and Gregory of Nazianzus. They used Greek as their literary vehicle, and their writings are more open to the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle.

Western Fathers

Notable figures include Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan; Saint Jerome; Saint Augustine of Hippo; and Pope Gregory the Great. They used Latin, and their writings often had an... Continue reading "The Church Fathers and Early Christianity in Hispania" »