and spiritual guidebook for Dante’s 14th world. Dante is careful in his identification of the stars and astrological signs which determine and support his reasons for placing Hell below Jerusalem. Based on the limited understanding of geography at the time‚ readers would have believed the physical placement of these biblical realms and would have built their belief system around it. Dante attempts to answer specific physical (scientific) questions with spiritual beliefs. For example‚ Dante addresses
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that posited the superiority of human nature over the practice of "owing our competence to our own powers"‚ I believe that Augustine would firmly disagree and claim that in order for humans to truly come into communion with their creator‚ that they would need to transcend their natural urges and inclinations by way of prayer‚ confession‚ and piety. In his Confessions‚ Augustine spoke of a drunkard who‚ through the procurement of a few begged coins‚ had seemingly obtained happiness (although‚ admittedly
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Spirituals began when Africans were brought to the colonies and forced to work as slaves. These songs were used to communicate‚ pass the time‚ and tell stories. Spirituals allowed slaves to express their despair‚ pain and suffering and slaves used code words to talk about their masters or give hints about escape‚ directions‚ and escape route. Spirituals also allowed for religious devotion and unity and was homophonic‚ containg multiple parts to the same rhythm. It also incorparated sycopation‚ the
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paper in a never-ending wind storm. Welcome to Dante ’s Inferno‚ his perspective on the appropriate punishments for those who are destined to hell for all eternity. Dante attempts to make the punishments fit the crimes‚ but because it is Dante dealing out the tortures and not God‚ the punishments will never be perfect because by nature‚ man is an imperfect creature. Only God is capable of being above reproach and of metering out a just punishment. While Dante ’s treatment towards the tyrants is fitting
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Though some speculated it involved fire‚ Dante chose to surround the Mountain by water. In contrast‚ there already existed the idea of a dark and gloomy hell‚ and a beautiful and light heaven. The poet selected to envisage purgatory as a mountain located on an island in the southern hemisphere. Purgatory is most similar to Earth‚ while hell and paradise are the customary spaces imagined. Dante divides the mountain to ante-purgatory and the seven terraces. The terraces
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good and not responsible for evil or suffering. Augustine of Hippo was the first to develop the theodicy. He rejected the idea that evil exists in itself‚ instead regarding it as a corruption of goodness‚ caused by humanity’s abuse of free will. Augustine believed in the existence of a physical Hell as a punishment for sin‚ but argued that those who choose to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ will go to Heaven. Thomas Aquinas‚ influenced by Augustine‚ proposed a similar theodicy based on the view
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Autobiography is a method which allows the reader and the writer to reflect on a personal‚ and factual journey through the past. The creation of the autobiography opens up new doors which enlighten the reader into the development of history‚ which is a uniquely western idea. Augustine’s Confessions uses this story as an autobiography to describe his distinctions between his ideas of Inner and Outer Man‚ which he reflects through his various books. He also uses the distinction between his books
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apart. The odyssey and inferno are about the journey of two men. In the two poems‚ the main character is given guidance by another character aiding them in their travel. Athena is the protector of Odysseus on his journey back from the Trojan War to his family in Ithaca. Dante on the other hand was led by vigil through hell in order to save his soul. In Dante’s inferno‚ there is a struggle between good and evil setting up the theme of the poem. The journey through hell is symbolic; the presentation
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allegory in the Inferno greatly varies from Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave" in purpose‚ symbolism‚ characters and mentors‚ and in attitude toward the world. An analysis of each of these elements in both allegories will provide an interesting comparison. Dante uses allegory to relate the sinner’s punishment to his sin‚ while Plato uses allegory to discuss ignorance and knowledge. Dante’s Inferno describes the descent through Hell from the upper level of the opportunists to the most evil‚ the treacherous
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Saint Augustine of Hippo was a very influential theologian in early Church history. Augustine had many profound ideas that continue to stand in our churches today. He is a man who had a stirring conversion to the Christian faith. Augustine struggled with many ideas‚ being determined to find the Truth in the World. His early life was full of radical ideas and rebellion‚ which helped guide Augustine later to his final teachings. Augustine argues in his book‚ Late Have I Loved Thee‚ that love is the
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