The Sacred Mystery: Exploring Religious Experience and Meaning
- The Mystery: Defining the Scope of the Sacred
The mystery is overwhelming. It demands humility, for excessive pride blinds us to discovery.
We seek to clarify the nature of the Other. Christianity identifies it as “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Other traditions use different names, such as “the unspeakable” or “the indescribable.” To encompass all religions, we adopt Rudolf Otto’s term, “the holy,” which we will refer to as the “Mystery.”
Due to the Mystery’s absolute superiority, direct
Read MoreIslamic Law in Al-Andalus: Characteristics, Sources, and Influence
The Characteristics of Islamic Law and Its Legal Sources
The mixed culture of Al-Andalus did not extend to its legal system. There was no blending of legal traditions due to the close connection between religion and law in the Muslim world. The Quran served as a guide for religious practices, morals, and laws.
Muslim law was not tied to a specific territory but applied to members of the Muslim community. Conversion to Islam was the gateway to this legal system. This close relationship between religion
Read MoreThe Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation
The Rise of Heresies and Religious Individuality in the 14th Century
The Crisis of the 14th Century
The long crisis of the 14th century, marked by famine, plague, and the Hundred Years’ War, profoundly impacted the mentality and behavior of Europeans. In the realm of religion, extreme behaviors emerged, ranging from exaggerated apocalyptic beliefs to skepticism and heresy. The Church experienced a period of division (schism) with two competing popes in the West: one in Rome and another in Avignon.
Read MoreLove, Sadness, and Joy
A Hidden Corner of Happiness
The Beginning
In a corner of happiness, hidden beneath fallen leaves, love danced among the heart pieces scattered on the soil. Sadness watched, observing silently. Love cried out, but neither listened. Love ran, disappearing with the heart pieces, and marched away from that place of sadness and bitterness. Crying to heaven, they looked back, not understanding, crying uncontrollably. Love lost and suppressed its breath.
Lies and Pretenses
Love began to lie, pretending joy
Read MoreSt. Augustine & the Fall of the Roman Empire: A Socio-Cultural Analysis
St. Augustine and the Fall of Rome
Historical Context
During the first three centuries AD, Christianity experienced significant growth, eventually becoming the official religion of the Eastern Roman Empire in 311 AD with Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan. This edict granted Christianity legal status, intertwining politics and religion, and transforming theological debates into political ones. Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea to address the Arianism controversy. Christianity, now protected
Read MoreThe City of God: Augustine’s Response to the Roman Empire’s Crisis
The Crisis of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire faced a deep crisis, threatened by barbarians from outside and internal problems like economic and political instability, social unrest, and military anarchy. State intervention increased, turning citizens into subjects of a divinely appointed sovereign. The same year Theodosius divided the empire between his sons Honorius (West) and Arcadius (East), philosopher Augustine was appointed bishop of Hippo, and the Vandals invaded Tagaste.
East and West
Both
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