Damascus Mosque: A Masterpiece of Islamic Architecture
The Great Mosque of Damascus: A Historical Overview
In 638, Damascus was conquered by Islam. In 660, Caliph Muawiyah, the first Umayyad, moved the capital of the Muslim world from Medina to Damascus. In 706, Caliph al-Walid ordered the construction of a lavish mosque in Damascus, considered a masterpiece of architecture and regarded as the eighth wonder of the world.
From Roman Temple to Christian Basilica
In the first century AD, a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter stood in Damascus. In the fourth
Read MoreUnderstanding God’s Forgiveness and Mercy
This unit explores God’s forgiveness and mercy, presenting God, through the “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” as a Father always willing to forgive. We explain the meaning of repentance and what asking for forgiveness involves, drawing a parallel with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We establish the relationship between forgiving and being forgiven as two attitudes that must coexist in every person.
Objectives
- Knowing the Bible: reference, structure, and meaning, identifying some basic texts as the
Understanding Periphrasis: Manners, Communication, and Signs
Periphrasis: Manners, Contributions, and Communication
Periphrasis contributions are similar to particular obligations and opportunities. Actions are taken with a perfective aspect. Forms of the simple past tense indicate a perfective aspect (e.g., John studied). Imperfective actions are considered in their unfoldment with no indication of termination. Simple forms indicate an imperfective aspect (e.g., John is studying).
Communication
Communication involves the transmission of specific information
Read MoreHuman Nature vs. Culture: Learning and Development
Human Nature and Culture: The Role of Learning
The confrontation between nature and culture has sometimes been presented as the disjunction between learning and inheritance. Subjective culture is that knowledge acquired through learning. The nature of the process would be genetically programmed, so it is acquired during embryonic development. The debate about the relationship between the natural aspects of human beings is almost as old as reflection on humanity itself. What is human behavior?
Many
Read MoreSaint Augustine: Life, Philosophy, and Faith
Saint Augustine: Life and Historical Context
Saint Augustine (354-430 AD) lived during a difficult time. Originally from Numidia in North Africa, he experienced the social upheavals characteristic of the fall of the Roman Empire, which must have been a significant human and transcendental experience. The Empire had adopted Christianity as its official religion in 380 AD. Augustine’s reflections, therefore, were based on his observations, interpreting and making sense of the facts. At the time, followers
Read MoreSaint Augustine’s Theory of Illumination
Wisdom and Enlightenment
The concepts of “wisdom and enlightenment” are central to Saint Augustine’s Theory of Knowledge. This theory aimed at creating a *paideia*, a system of education and training for Christian citizens. This education was driven by the pursuit of truth, ultimately leading to happiness. Augustine believed that knowledge progresses through varying degrees to reach absolute truth and wisdom, which is God.
Degrees of Knowledge
- Sensation/Feeling: This is the first grade of the spirit