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:
To me medieval life was dark and dreary. It was full of hippocrittes. Those who professed to follow the teaching of God and honor him with all their might were the same ones to backstab their fellow monks. It couldn't have been easy living in those days where ideas were suppressed and one couldn't think for himself without being in fear of going against the church and its teachings. I give William of Baskerville a lot of credit to go against the beliefs the church had and go find the truth on his own. It could have cost him his life. The Name of the Rose also got me to wonder if monks in those days were so vindictive and so without the spirit of Christ. I thought most of them were such big hippocrites. Another thing I thouth was quite sad was the shut up library. What a horrible time of life it must have been to not be able to think and learn for ones self. "A monk should not laugh. It is the fool alone who lifts his voice in laughter" was a comment made by Jorgi. Even the simplist laugh or chuckle was considered obscene.
I did think that the writings of Kempis were beautiful though. It's so full of spirituality and people today read and ponder it's meaning. "Learn to despise outward things and to turn thee to inward things and thou shalt see the kingdom come into thee; for the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Ghost the which is not given to wicked men" and "Put all thy trust in God; let Him be thy dread; let Him be thy love; He shall answer for thee and do well and as is best" are my favorite of all. I can tell he was really into it and I hope he got the rewards in the afterlife that he deserved. In general, medieval life was making god number one. Anything that could not be explained or could wait for an educated answer came from Satan and his workers on earth. I felt for the girl on the movie when she was branded a witch. I am glad I wasn't born in that period.
The Renissance period on the other hand must have been so exciting. People pushing the church to the limits and going for the truth and more truth.
Pico talks about "whatever seeds each man cultivates..." and to me it sounds like he is taking about free will. God creates us and it is up to us to determine what we want to do with our life. If we choose to be spiritual or if we choose to condemn ourselves it is up to us.