The 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
Read MoreThe Church: Body of Christ, People of God
Chapter I: Understanding the Church
1. Stages of the Church
- Incarnation: Jesus became man.
- Baptism of Jesus: The Church is born through baptism.
- Preaching the Kingdom: Jesus taught the apostles about the Kingdom and sent them to preach.
- Easter: Jesus proclaims the “new covenant” sealed with his new people.
- Death on the Cross: Death to the old regime of Israel.
- Resurrection of Christ
- Pentecost: 50 days after, the Holy Spirit comes.
- Ascension: Christ ascends to His Father, the Church is glorified.
2. The Mystical
Read MoreFeuerbach’s Anthropological Philosophy
Early Life and Influences
Ludwig Feuerbach was born in Landshut, Bavaria, in 1804. Initially a disciple of Hegel, he gradually developed an anthropological approach to philosophy. His 1839 work, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy, offered a materialist interpretation of Hegel’s ideas.
Essence of Christianity and the Critique of Religion
In his seminal work, The Essence of Christianity (1841), Feuerbach argued that the sole purpose of religion is man, and that God is merely an idealized projection of human
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