The Beatitudes: A Path to Supreme Happiness
The Eight Beatitudes
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
- Blessed are they who are persecuted for
Augustine’s City of God: History, Theology, and Philosophy
History and City of God
In City of God, Augustine writes for 15 years after the sack of Rome by Alaric (410), to defend Christianity against the charge of causing the fall of Rome. This work presents history from the Christian viewpoint, focusing on salvation history through God. The history is divided into three times: past (before Christ), present (in Christ), and future (from Christ until the final union with the kingdom of God).
The Greeks had a cyclic concept of history, eternal, unlike the Christian
Read MoreUnderstanding Romanesque Architecture: Key Features & Styles
Romanesque Architecture: An Overview
The Romanesque style developed from the ninth century until the 11th century, and in some countries, until the 12th century. This style was often implemented in countries with limited resources and populations, resulting in smaller churches constructed from modest materials. However, pilgrimage churches are an exception, being larger and built with higher-quality materials.
Key Architectural Features
- Plan: Churches typically follow a Latin cross plan.
- Naves: Usually
The Intellectualism of Morality: Reason and Ethical Action
The Moral Intellectualism:
The idea of moral intellectualism, stemming from the Socratic notion that if one knows the good, one must behave well, posits that knowledge is the foundation of ethical action. Socrates believed that immediate moral action arises from a correct understanding of what one should do.
However, the Sophists disagreed, challenging the arguments for good morals, virtue, and justice presented in Plato’s dialogues. Socrates aimed to expose the contradictions and ignorance of young
Read MoreUnderstanding World Religions: Key Concepts & Dialogue
Understanding World Religions
Key Concepts
- Same: Are the same.
- Positivism/Scientism: Belief that denies the validity of philosophy or theology; the only knowledge is of the material world.
- Multiculturalism: The idea that all religions are the same and good.
- Atheism: The idea that all religions are the same and generally bad due to a denial of the transcendent.
- Ecumenism: The goal to unite all Christians as one.
- Interreligious Dialogue: Interaction between different religious leaders to foster peace and
Understanding the Buddha: Life, Death, and Enlightenment
The Buddha
Literal Comprehension
An artist needed to paint a picture of the death of Buddha for the village temple. To do this, he had to understand the Buddha. On the first day, he imagined himself as the young prince Siddhartha, living in the palace. He won Princess Yashodhara in a competition and felt no ill will towards his rivals. The artist imagined servants serving him food when his housekeeper arrived with his midday meal. He even imagined his cat as a dancing girl.
On the second day, he became
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