Torture has always been regarded as a tool for confession and applied throughout history. In cases when requesting and convincing do not work, threatening or torturing has been considered to be a ＂right＂ to do. Tort...Torture has always been regarded as a tool for confession and applied throughout history. In cases when requesting and convincing do not work, threatening or torturing has been considered to be a ＂right＂ to do. Torture was used in Ancient Rome, in Europe in Medieval Age, and in England even though it was against unwritten law, and applied in USA secretly today. Since ancient times, people have been used to torturing for similar purposes. Today, torture is put into practice again for similar purposes such as forcing people to live according to religious beliefs and looking after the benefits of the government. Torture museums found in many European countries make visitors confused as these museums display terrifying tools applied to the Christian community in Medieval Age and then used by Christians to torture ＂Deviants＂.展开更多
Which is the true religion？ In the Middle Ages, the parable of the three rings, in all its versions, is a subtle answer to this question, which uses a persuasive allegory. The allegory of the three rings refers to a ...Which is the true religion？ In the Middle Ages, the parable of the three rings, in all its versions, is a subtle answer to this question, which uses a persuasive allegory. The allegory of the three rings refers to a previous allegory, represented by three gems, one real and two fakes. The religion of the philosophers was born from the hidden meaning of the same allegory： universalism, brotherhood of men as children of the one and only God, the transcendence of a single God that cannot be reduced to any particular representation, and love for one＇s neighbors. The three sons who receive the inheritance of the ring, given by their father, are all loved by him and all three receive a gem that could be the real one. The similarity of the position of the three sons is equivalent to the moral element shared by the three religions： All those who believe in God and his justice put into practice the fundamental teachings of the philosophers. The meaning of the allegory is evident： None of the three sons can claim with certainty the possession of the real ring, but precisely because of this their faith can remain clear, removed from the temptation of pursuing someone because of that person＇s religion.展开更多
The judicious and timely use of silence within worship is becoming increasingly recognised as a crucially important aspect of its performance. This article suggests that Samuel Beckett＇s Waiting for Godot has much to...The judicious and timely use of silence within worship is becoming increasingly recognised as a crucially important aspect of its performance. This article suggests that Samuel Beckett＇s Waiting for Godot has much to offer liturgists about silence＇s dramatic potential and its ability to alert others to a contemplative mode of being. I refute the predominant way of seeing the play as an absurdist text and indicate that a more persuasive reading would situate it within a contemplative hermeneutics which gives due weight to silence as an ontological phenomenon. One key to appreciating this interpretation is to see the play against the backdrop of the Christian contemplative tradition. Thus, the article, besides encouraging liturgists to pay attention to dramatists also suggests that dramatists might draw from religion＇s insights and history.展开更多
文摘Torture has always been regarded as a tool for confession and applied throughout history. In cases when requesting and convincing do not work, threatening or torturing has been considered to be a ＂right＂ to do. Torture was used in Ancient Rome, in Europe in Medieval Age, and in England even though it was against unwritten law, and applied in USA secretly today. Since ancient times, people have been used to torturing for similar purposes. Today, torture is put into practice again for similar purposes such as forcing people to live according to religious beliefs and looking after the benefits of the government. Torture museums found in many European countries make visitors confused as these museums display terrifying tools applied to the Christian community in Medieval Age and then used by Christians to torture ＂Deviants＂.
文摘Which is the true religion？ In the Middle Ages, the parable of the three rings, in all its versions, is a subtle answer to this question, which uses a persuasive allegory. The allegory of the three rings refers to a previous allegory, represented by three gems, one real and two fakes. The religion of the philosophers was born from the hidden meaning of the same allegory： universalism, brotherhood of men as children of the one and only God, the transcendence of a single God that cannot be reduced to any particular representation, and love for one＇s neighbors. The three sons who receive the inheritance of the ring, given by their father, are all loved by him and all three receive a gem that could be the real one. The similarity of the position of the three sons is equivalent to the moral element shared by the three religions： All those who believe in God and his justice put into practice the fundamental teachings of the philosophers. The meaning of the allegory is evident： None of the three sons can claim with certainty the possession of the real ring, but precisely because of this their faith can remain clear, removed from the temptation of pursuing someone because of that person＇s religion.
文摘The judicious and timely use of silence within worship is becoming increasingly recognised as a crucially important aspect of its performance. This article suggests that Samuel Beckett＇s Waiting for Godot has much to offer liturgists about silence＇s dramatic potential and its ability to alert others to a contemplative mode of being. I refute the predominant way of seeing the play as an absurdist text and indicate that a more persuasive reading would situate it within a contemplative hermeneutics which gives due weight to silence as an ontological phenomenon. One key to appreciating this interpretation is to see the play against the backdrop of the Christian contemplative tradition. Thus, the article, besides encouraging liturgists to pay attention to dramatists also suggests that dramatists might draw from religion＇s insights and history.
