(University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, 2010) The carving depicts St Gregory sitting writing with a dove perched on his shoulder. St Gregory was pope from 590 – 604 and wrote many of the doctrines and principles followed by the Catholic Church, these writing were thought to be inspired by God. “Almost all the leading principles of the later Catholicism are found, at any rate in germ, in Gregory the Great.” (Knight, 2009) The dove in the carving is intended to show that St Gregory’s writing are inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore God. Doves are used throughout Christian art to depict many beliefs. In modern times the dove has many meanings, it can represent; the Holy Ghost, peace, and innocence.
The influence of Christianity on Native Americans Given the lack of written history for hundreds of years by Native Americans, it leads to wonder how much of the current information and how many of the current religious practice have been given a different spin by Christian missionaries and those reporting about Native Americans. Many Native Americans have converted to Christianity historically through missionaries and more currently by blending with the mainstream. It appears those practicing time honored traditions struggle to do so. I find it nothing short of miraculous that so many of the traditions remain intact. Since the religious practices and histories of these tribes have been passed on orally and by demonstration, the invasion of Christians into Native American lands or at least the interpretation of these practices seem to align.
One example of this can easily be seen by the translations of the Christian monks. Upon their discovery and rewriting of Beowulf, the Christian monks felt it necessary to remind readers of their belief in one omnipresent God. Examples of this can be seen throughout the entire poem; just little reminders from the monks that “what God judged right would rule what happened” (page 1241), et cetera. These reminders from the monks also take on deeper meanings, reflecting the beliefs of the Christian faith. On page 1226, while Beowulf is preparing himself to battle the dragon, it is written that he “watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers.” This is an example of a strong Christian belief that is shown in the poem – everything humans have is a gift from God, the one God who has all the power in the universe.
The best example of this is in the section titled Mass Movements (49-122). In this section alone Dr. Hatch introduces several mass religious movements and explains how they affected the people involved through the democratizing of Christianity. Throughout the book Dr. Hatch also gives attention to many diverse figures from each of these different groups. From Lorenzo Dow to Francis Asbury of the Methodist, to the story of John Furman of the Baptist movement, and many more, he draws from a wealth of information about who these people were and how they helped move this democratized form of
During the time of Beowulf, one specific occurrence that hindered or challenged the hero and many other townspeople was the rise of Christianity. While Beowulf was still a young excited warrior, Paganism was the main religion that the people of Britain praised. Though as illustrated in the story of Beowulf, one is able to identify numerous differences between the two religions and only some similarities. Of course the differences are many due to the extreme difference in religion; single god, different god, prophets, writings, etc… Although, some similarities do arise. Within the story of Beowulf, one is able to identify similarities between the two religions from the characters, as well as specific events.
There are three major parts of the poem that show the integration; the death for the sins of others, the honor of his uncle’s agreement, and how he has 12 followers at the end these show the integration of Christian and pagan beliefs with the intent that the listeners pick up on them. This strongly shows how Beowulf is a didactic tale because it teaches the Anglo-Saxon morals and beliefs from the bible. Beowulf shows many similarities with the bible; this can be seen many times thorough the poem and in more ways than one. One of the biggest is how Beowulf has 12 followers or disciples at the end of his life that stood by him through the test of time. This shows the similarities of the poem to the bible but not to make lite
This is related to the part to the manner of God’s self-revelation in war. Wars did take place in ancient Israel, but why was so much of it preserved as a big part of the revealed scripture (The Problem of War in the Old Testament, p. 11)? Third, there is a problem of ethics. In the New Testament God is loving and caring. Are our ethics taught on the New Testament alone, or the entire bible?
Seamus Heaney’s translation of the epic poem “Beowulf” successfully explores the reconciliation of Christian, mythological and Pagan influences. It analyses the text’s depiction of the archetypal hero and it’s symbol allusions through the indeterminable battle between Good and Evil, the concept of Fate, and the ‘superhuman’ within a mortal realm. Beowulf utilises poetic themes of religion in the way it manages to blend pagan and Christian morals and values and displace paradoxical notions. Heaney manages to combine his Christian perception of the loving but demanding virtues of an all-powerful and Judgmental God with the insane futility of the Germanic’s thirst for vengeance. Myth helped define the ancestral Germanic people’s existence, in
Obama is quoted as saying, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation” and “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.” Obama can also be quoted for saying numerous anti-Biblical statements that show disrespect to the Bible and the Christians who believe in the bible. This spread of anti-Christianity isn’t just happening in America, It is also taking place in other countries more so than we are currently seeing here. There seems to be a pattern occurring that has to do with many countries that our last two
“Men, Women and Schools of thought love have reformed and/or revitalized the Christian Tradition” This statement remarkably reflects on Martin Luther’s impact on Christianity. Martin Luther generated significant effects on Christianity in his life time and in the present through institutional, theological and liturgical impacts. His influences has resulted in immense change in Christian denomination’s reforming and revitalizing their dynamic beliefs towards Christianity. Martin Luther’s disagreement with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching of Selling Indulgences caused the different changes within Christianity and hugely impacted the foundation of the Protestant Reformation. He objected to the activities of the Church and attacked doctrines of indulgences and penance and published