Social Cohesion, Diversity, and Combating Discrimination
Understanding Plural Societies and Dignity
Identity and Coexistence in a Plural Society
Identity: We identify ourselves based on where we were born, the language we speak, and the customs and ideas we hold.
Plural Society: Our society is composed of individuals and groups with varied characteristics. To live in peace and progress, both as individuals and as a society, we must learn to coexist civilly with those who are different from us. Being a good neighbor requires an effort of understanding and
Read MoreAntigone’s Legacy: Duty, Defiance, and Divine Will
The Aftermath of War: Antigone’s Defiance
The tragedy unfolds at dawn, the day after the war’s end. Oedipus’s two sons, Polynices, who led the Argive army against Thebes, and Eteocles, who defended the city, have killed each other in battle. Now, Oedipus’s two daughters, Antigone and Ismene, stand on stage.
Antigone implores her sister Ismene to help her bury Polynices, defying Creon’s recent mandate. Creon, the new ruler, has decreed that Polynices, as a traitor, must be left unburied as punishment.
Read MoreChristian Humanism: Principles, Thinkers, and Anthropology
Christian Humanism: Dignity and Social Life
Simple exposure to these currents of thought makes it evident that without God, humanity loses much of its dignity, and social life crumbles for lack of a solid basis for upholding fundamental human values.
The Foundations of Christian Humanism
Thus, during the last two centuries, humanism that was closed to God has gradually opened up, embracing evangelical criteria and rooting itself in a comprehensive human interest from a Christian conception of humanity
Read MoreSt. Augustine: A Pivotal Figure in Early Christianity
Early Life, Conversion, and Roman Context
Saint Augustine was born in 354 CE in Tagaste, North Africa, the son of Patricius, a pagan, and Monica, a fervent Christian. His birth coincided with the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire, under emperors like Julian II and Theodosius I. After Theodosius’s death, the Empire was famously divided into East and West. This era was marked by economic crises, progressive barbarian invasions, and the devastating sack of Rome in 410 CE.
It was in this tumultuous
Read MoreMahabharata’s Moral Crossroads: Karna & Bhishma’s Choices
Karna’s Dilemma: The Sacrifice of Kavach-Kundal
Karna, a pivotal character in the Mahabharata, faced a profound moral dilemma regarding his divine kavach (armor) and kundal (earrings). These celestial endowments made him invincible and were crucial for ensuring Duryodhana’s victory in the Kurukshetra War.
The Dilemma and Karna’s Choice
When Indra, disguised as a Brahmin, approached Karna to ask for his kavach-kundal as alms, Karna was presented with two stark choices:
- Keep the Kavach-Kundal: This would
The Multifaceted Nature of Love: Traditions and Transformations
Love: Emotion, Feeling, Verb, and Noun
- Emotion: Love is often felt as a deep emotional connection.
- Feeling: Love can be described as an internal experience, characterized by affection or longing.
- Verb: Love is an active process, involving care, commitment, and selflessness.
- Noun: Love is also a concept, something that can be defined, discussed, and shared across different traditions.
Eros Love: Passion, Transformation, and Pitfalls
Pros and Cons of Eros
Eros represents passionate love that can be both