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

Cantar de Mio Cid (Poem of the Cid)

Historical Context

Cantar de Mio Cid (Poem of the Cid) depicts real events, such as the exile and imprisonment of the Count of Valencia. However, the faces of the corporation and the tournament are fictitious. The first person singular highlights verisimilitude, while the second and third person emphasize the legendary nature of the tale.

Characters and Plot

The Cid's daughters were named Cristina and Maria. They married the Count of Barcelona and the King of Navarre. El Cid suffered exile and the King's enmity for a period. He consistently faces the Moors but also contends with the Count of Leon and the nobility. The poem's purpose is to degrade the nobility.

Social Structure

The social estates depicted are the... Continue reading "Castilian Medieval Literature: Cid, Mester de Clerecía, and Gonzalo de Berceo" »

New Testament Foundations

The New Testament begins with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which recount the life of Jesus Christ. Following these is the book of Acts of the Apostles, describing the beginning of the Christian Church after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are called "Synoptic Gospels" because they follow a similar structure and share many similarities. The Gospel of John differs from the others in its form and content. However, the four together present one unified Gospel, the "Good News." The New Testament is understood as the fulfillment of all promises made in the Old Testament.

Old Testament Cornerstones

The first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Pentateuch,... Continue reading "Biblical Testaments: Key Books and Their Messages" »

Key Figures of the Holy Roman Empire

• Leo III: The Pope who took the papacy in 795 and crowned Charlemagne on December 25, 800, restoring the Holy Roman Empire of the West.
• Charlemagne: The Holy Roman Emperor of the West in the 9th century, in whom all political authority of the empire resided.

Political and Social Foundations

Christian Politics and Governance

Christian Politics: A policy based on the good order of the Church and society.

De Civitate Dei: A work by St. Augustine, who proposed a government of public affairs based on the Gospel, justice, and good governance.

Feudalism and Social Order

Feudalism: A system and management of properties based on the feudal contract, where individuals yielded services, land, or money (the enfeoffed) in return... Continue reading "Church and State in the Holy Roman Empire" »

Saint Anselm of Canterbury: Faith and Reason

Saint Anselm of Canterbury, a pivotal figure in medieval thought, applied dialectic to theology. He carefully avoided subordinating faith to reason, instead aiming to develop the best possible theology by discovering the inherent reason within faith itself. Anselm famously argued that God is 'that than which nothing greater can be thought.' He posited that even an atheist, in denying God's existence, is capable of understanding this concept, implying God's necessary existence through what is known as the ontological argument.

Stoicism: Philosophy of Virtue and Resilience

A prominent Hellenistic school of philosophy, Stoicism derives its name from the Stoa Poikile (painted porch) in Athens, where its... Continue reading "Foundational Philosophies: Ancient Greek and Medieval Thought" »

Like Everything in Us

Like everything in us, God wanted to become man with all its consequences. He has shared in human life as humanity has known what it is to enjoy, suffer, work, fight, love and betray, the search for its own mission, and trust in God.

Jesus Reveals Who God Is

Jesus is the human face of God. That God whom no one has seen before is revealed in Jesus. Whoever sees Jesus sees God. Discover who God is for humans, how he is interested in them, and how he seeks their salvation.

God Becomes Man in Jesus

God is uniquely present in the life of Jesus. In the life of Jesus, the Word of God is fully present, and we can say that God and Jesus are one in a profound mystery of communion.

Jesus, Son of God

Believers express this truth in different... Continue reading "Jesus as the Human Face of God — Incarnation, Liturgy & Symbols" »

Arnaldus de Villa Nova

Born in Valencia, Arnaldus de Villa Nova studied Arabic medicine at the Universities of Naples and Montpellier. A prestigious physician, he divided his work into medical works in Latin and religious works defending Christian orthodoxy (Confessió de Barcelona).

Vincent Ferrer

A Dominican friar born in Valencia, Vincent Ferrer was a renowned evangelist. He was a Master of Theology and served as a counselor to kings and popes. He intervened in significant religious events, such as the Western Schism (a split in the Christian church due to the existence of two, and later three, popes), and the Compromise of Caspe, where the successor to the Crown of Aragon was decided after the death of Martin the Humane. His sermons were famous... Continue reading "Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Vincent Ferrer, Anselm Turmeda, and Humanism" »

Characteristics of Ancient Egyptian Architecture

The architecture of ancient Egypt is renowned for several distinctive features:

• Scale: Works are colossal and monumental.
• Materials: Use of large blocks of stone, uniformly carved.
• Rules: Adherence to fixed and inflexible architectural rules.
• Structure: Primarily post-and-lintel (trabeated) construction, meaning they rely on vertical supports and horizontal beams rather than true arches or vaults.

The most important building types were the tombs and the temples.

Egyptian Tombs and the Afterlife

Ancient Egyptians attached great importance to the afterlife, preparing their final resting place throughout their lives. This concern explains their zeal for medicine and preservation rituals, as they believed... Continue reading "Ancient Egyptian Architecture: Monuments, Tombs, and Temples" »

Social Injustice in Los Santos Inocentes

The central theme of Los Santos Inocentes is the profound social injustice, exacerbated by the accepted submission of the oppressed. This injustice is evident not only in external signs like differing lifestyles but also in the contempt shown by masters towards the humble, who endure abuses. The gentry's ideology remains rigid and unchanging.

Book Summaries: Key Themes and Events

Book I: Azarías, La Milana, and Nature's Embrace

Book I introduces Azarías, whose lack of 'human warmth' is palpable at the La Jara farmhouse. He periodically visits his sister and develops a deep affection for an owl, La Milana, with whom he shares a strong bond. His love for nature, even in death, is a significant theme, and... Continue reading "Los Santos Inocentes: Social Injustice, Nature, and Character Dynamics" »

Historical Framework: Thomas Aquinas's Era

Thomas Aquinas's thought belongs to the late medieval period, roughly from the 11th century until the late 15th century. Until the 11th century, Europe was considered stronger and more powerful, with periods of expansion and retreat. The expansion era of the early centuries of the Middle Ages, driven by improvements in agriculture, diet, and population increase, set the stage for this time. The forging of modern European states began.

In politics, Christianity saw two great powers: Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII. In the 13th century, Pope Innocent III established a theocracy where religious power was above political power. The papacy moved to Avignon, reducing its spiritual influence. This led... Continue reading "Thomas Aquinas and His Medieval World" »

Humanism: Ideas and Expansion

Humanism was a cultural renewal movement that originated in Italy in the 15th century and subsequently spread across Europe in the 16th century.

Key Humanist Ideas

• Rejection of the medieval focus on God, emphasizing the exaltation of humanity as uniquely endowed with freedom and reason.
• Inspiration drawn from Greco-Roman culture.
• Interest in science and technical progress, fostering a new scientific spirit based on observation and experimentation.
• Promotion of vernacular languages.

The Printing Press and Humanist Spread

The creation of the printing press in the 15th century significantly aided the expansion of humanism. Invented by Johannes Gutenberg, this innovation involved elaborate wooden molds for each letter of the... Continue reading "Europe's Renaissance and Reformation: Key Transformations" »