Humanities & Classics 1002
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Renaissance Forum
Humanities & Classics 1002 |
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In Reply to: PLEASE POST YOU FIRST REQUIRED POSTING AS A REPLY TO THIS posted by TOM BACIG on December 13, 1998 at 19:30:06:
After reading the selections from "Imitation of Christ", and "Oration on the Dignity of Man", I thought about what each man says about life. It caused me to look deeply into myself and realize what kind of lifestyle I am leading. These readings have the same theme, but the views represented are completely opposite.
Thomas `a Kempis's view is that each man should do whatever shall please God. "Learn to despise outward things and to turn to thee to inward things and thou shall see the kingdom come into thee." Are the 'outward things' material possesions and the 'inward things' emotions toward God and fellow man? This is very possible considering Kempis's life in the monastery. I believe that what he is saying is that the only way to see the kingdom of God is to give up material items and to devote one's life to praising God. "A lover of Jesus and a very inward manand free from inordinate affections may freely turn himself to God and lift himself in spirit and rest there joyously." Kempis see the relationship between humans and God as a way to better mankind. He believes that in order to be able to have God in a person's heart and soul, that person will have to make themselves worthy of God's presence. "Christ shall come to thee showing thee His consolation if thou make for him within thee a worthy dwelling place." Kempis also believes that no man should believe that he is greater that another man. Having humility is one of the greatest virtues any human could have. "Account thyself never to have profited till thou feel thee lower than all others."
Pico della Mirandola's view of humanity is quite the opposite than of Kempis's view. In his "Oration on the Dignity of Man", Mirandola explains the statement: "There is nothing to be seen more wonderful than man." Although he disagrees with reasons from other scholars, he does agree that man is a wonderful being. Mirandola sees the relationship between God and mankind similiar to the relationship between an artist and his creation. Throughout the selection, Mirandola refers to God as "the Supreme Architect," or "the Artist." Mirandola sees life as a blank canvas and each person must create their own masterpiece of life. "Whatever seed each man cultivates, those seeds will grow to maturity and bear in him their own fruit." Each man makes his own life as he wants it. In Mirandola'a writings, the Artist addressed man: "...Thou shalt have the power to degenerate into the lower forms of life, which are animal; thou shalt have the power, out of soul's judgement to be reborn into the higher forms of life, which are divine." Each man determines his own destiny with choices he makes during his lifetime, and no one can make decisions for him.
Kempis and Mirandola have very different views on life, yet each discuss how important humankind is. To Kempis, good men are rewarded with the presence of God in their souls. To Mirandola, man chooses whether to be good or wicked which consequently determines what will become of him.