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

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

Mission of Jesus

The Gospel demonstrates that Jesus was not indifferent to the needs of the vulnerable. He fought against hypocrisy, the abuse of power, and the profit motive of the wealthy. He denounced indifference toward the suffering of the oppressed, noting that those responsible will be held accountable when He returns to judge the world. Jesus proclaimed an essential equality in dignity among all human beings, both men and women. In His message, we find the conception of the person as a social being, correlating with criteria based on solidarity, justice, and charity. Gospel values relate to the origin and nature of authority, which must be exercised as a service to the common good.

Mission of the Church

The Church, continuing the mission... Continue reading "The Social Doctrine of the Church: Principles and Values" »

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" »

Anselm of Canterbury and the Ontological Argument

The importance of Anselm of Canterbury lies primarily in his role as the first Christian theologian who attempted to provide a proof of the existence of God without recourse to faith or the Scriptures. This test subsequently became known as the Ontological Argument.

Anselm's argument intends not to rely on data derived from faith, but it utilizes the notion of God—understood as “a being than which nothing greater can be conceived”—a notion that is already present in the mind.

We think of God as that than which nothing greater can be conceived. The atheist denies that God exists, but even the atheist must admit that the concept of God, as a mere idea, is already in the mind (in intellectu)... Continue reading "Anselm's Ontological Proof and Aquinas's Five Ways" »

• 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" »

5) A V century onwards, the Empire gave the Church the privilege of court and gave the applicant a private jurisdiction over the clergy.

6) In the tenth century, the Church arrogated to itself the jurisdiction over all matters concerning the sacraments and marriage.

7) The progressive extension of judicial control of the Church was facilitated by the collapse of the political, legal and jurisdictional in Western Europe following the fall of Western Roman Empire and Germanic invasions.

8) More and more cultural prestige and increasingly strong and organized at the institutional level, the Church tended to hegemony in the political and legal mechanisms to impose the kings and political organizations to protect peripheral

9) The institutional... Continue reading "Theory of roman law" »

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