Theism in a Postmodern World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Theism in a Postmodern World - Essay Example One, religion in ancient times was in very close relation with the secular government. For example, the pharaohs in Egypt as well as the Emperors in Rome, represented deities that had to be worshiped. They also represented high priests and performed or played a part many religious customs. The Christians' refusal to except the divine nature of the roman emperor seemed as a direct opposition to the emperor's political power, and this reason prompted the Caesars to persecute the Christian faith. The second reason is the teaching of equality and the nature of the afterlife presented through evangelism. The belief that the one omnipotent God will comfort the weak and the poor and will punish the rich and merciless aristocracy represented a social idea that quickly spread through the majority of the disenfranchised population. This was seen as a possible threat to the political power of the roman emperor and aristocracy. By the beginning of the forth century, Christianity became a widespread religion in the Roman world. This forced the roman emperor Constantine to proclaim that Christianity is a free and equal religion. Constantine himself also was baptised and became a Christian. As the empire was divided, so was the influence of the church. In the West, as the political power of the Emperor diminished, the church and the Bishop of Rome, gained larger political and cultural roles in the West Roman Empire. In the East, there was an enormous influence of the church in political matter, but nevertheless, the main secular power remained in the hands of Constantinople's rulers. During the middle Ages, the influence of the Church in state matters and in culture during the period is self-evident. Despite the Great Schism in 1054, when the church was divided in Western Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, both churches retained enormous political influence. The Pope anointed Christian secular rulers in Europe, and the anointment itself presented the ruler's of Europe as rulers chosen by God himself. It also had an influence over the European continent as a whole, being the main progenitor of the Crusades, as a result of the Turkish conquests in the Middle East. As stated previously, the church and generally Christianity had a major influence on the way of life and culture in the middle ages. Paintings and other art works were exclusively of religious nature. Most literature works were connected with doctrinal law, including the writings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas of Acquitane. Another important fact that has to be mentioned is the fact that secular laws were in close connection with canonical laws. This provided the church with means to influence the lives of everyday citizens of the European kingdoms. Practicing prostitution, homosexuality or even expressing certain scientific ideas that were opposed to the church's beliefs were punished. Most notably, the existence of the Inquisition and the witch-hunts that were performed by this church institution expressed the influence the church had over the live of ordinary people. During

Assess the representation of women in eighteenth-century literature Essay

Assess the representation of women in eighteenth-century literature - Essay Example We might take issue with this, but it is easy to see why the novel has been such a keen topic for feminist criticism. In Sense and Sensibility, Austen draws on her own experiences as a young woman to understand the position of women deprived of economic means. It is of course notable that Austen was herself a rarity at the time – an independent female writer, and Sense and Sensibility, her first published novel, was originally published under the pseudonym, ‘A Lady’. Defoe’s Moll Flanders, like several of his other novels, is presented in the form of an autobiography. The character, in this case Moll, is looking back on her life and, as Pollak suggests, is ‘attempting to make sense of it through the act of writing’ (p.139). There is some question over the position of Defoe in presenting the immorality and deprivation of Moll’s past life. Through writing, is he attempting to discourage such immorality by exposing it to the light of day an d public criticism, or is he taking advantage of the excitement readers feel for the forbidden, the lowlife, and the illicit. The latter is surely the case to some extent. There is even some question as to the sincerity of Moll’s conversion from immorality. Defoe writes that she is no longer ‘so extraordinary a Penitent, as she was at first’ (p.5). ... a tool to make the story appear more genuine and authentic for readers, it is possible that Defoe is leaving room for doubt as to his own opinions on women and the position they are given in the society of his novels. As Pollak writes, this ploy ‘works subtly and perhaps surprisingly to unsettle the very truths about gender that his plots seem to affirm’ (p.141). At this juncture, it is worth recalling the terms in which Defoe, writing as the editor of Moll’s racy account, describes the severe difficulty faced in his task. He has had â€Å"no little difficult to put it [Moll’s account] into a Dress fit to be seen, and to make it speak language fit to be read. When a Woman debauch’d from her Youth, nay, even being the Off-spring of Debauchery and Vice, comes to give an Account of all her vicious Practices...an Author must be hard put to wrap it up so clean’ (p.1). There is an air here of Moll being a fallen woman, and being tainted by all that she has engaged in. In this comment by the editor, there is an even a sense of his distaste at handling such material. However, as noted above, at many points Defoe continues to be ambiguous about his own opinion of Moll and her failings. We are left with the fundamental question: is she an immoral soul, or a woman forced by the circumstances of her gender to stoop to low acts in order to seek independence. Defoe adopts a similarly ambiguous position in his presentation of the prescribed roles for women in contemporary society. Moll recounts, in the course of her account, being mocked as a child for believing that she could one day become a gentlewoman by working for an honest livelihood. In this instance, we must ask, as does Pollak, ‘Is the older, more experienced Moll simply exposing her earlier childish ignorance