Christian History: From Theology to Vatican
Theology: A Rational Reflection on God
Theology is a rational reflection on God and the experience of being Christian.
The Anchorite and the Monasteries
- Anchorite: Vivian practiced an austere lifestyle, leaving behind tangible possessions and seeking peace. They lived in solitude, focusing on prayer and guidance from a teacher, with occasional communal prayer.
- Monasteries: Monks also lived austerely, renouncing material goods and seeking peace. However, they lived in communities outside of cities.
Early
Read MoreApollo, Dionysus, and Nietzsche’s Philosophy
Apollo and Dionysus: Genealogy of Tragedy
It is the first work inspired by Nietzsche’s Schopenhauer. Tragedy originated through the fusion of two opposing elements of the Greek spirit: the Dionysian and the Apollonian. Nietzsche opposes the classification of the history of Greece into three periods: a dark stage (ancient Greece), a glorious era (the period of Pericles and Socrates in the fourth century), and a final decadent phase (Hellenism). What appeared in ancient tragic drama is pure creativity
Read MoreChristianity and Germanic Peoples in the Early Middle Ages
Christianity and Germanic Peoples in the Roman Empire
1.1 Germans and Christians in the Empire: The Empire designated specific regions where Germanic peoples were allotted land as fiefs. The last Roman Emperor was Romulus Augustulus. Three circumstances are notable: the population remained faithful to Catholicism, the barbarians arrived in an already Christianized empire, and the imperial structures miraculously survived. It’s questionable whether the adhesion of western territories kept the Roman
Read MoreErasmus and the Counter-Reformation: Key Aspects
Erasmus and the Counter-Reformation
Erasmus believed that sincerity was key. He saw evil concealed within formalism, blind compliance to tradition, unnecessary consumption, and organizations resistant to change, but never within the teachings of Christ. He envisioned the Christian life as a battle against evil, where the Christian knight defends themselves through knowledge of divine law, reading sacred texts, and mental prayer. He criticized the excessive veneration of images of saints and even
Read MoreReformation Era: Causes, Reformers, and Counter-Reformation
The Protestant Reformation
During the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation spread across Europe. It caused a collapse of the religious unity that the Catholic Church had upheld in Western Europe. As a result, the Catholic Church launched the Counter-Reformation.
Causes of the Reformation
- Disdain for the papacy and clergy: The Roman Catholic Church was very powerful in Europe. However, many believed that popes were mainly concerned with their own interests; bishops lived a life of luxury and did
Religious Diversity in Spain: A Historical View
Features of Spanish Catholicism
During the dictatorship of General Franco (1939-1975), and until the proclamation of the Constitution in 1978, Spain was officially a Catholic state, with legislation inspired by the religion. This regime is known as National Catholicism. This close relationship between church and state was confirmed by the signing of the Concordat of 1953. The 1978 Constitution and the Organic Law of Religious Freedom in 1980 initiated a change towards a state independent of any particular
Read More