Cultural Trends of Late Modernism
Summarize Religious Lethargy and explain the challenges that this feature presents for Christianity.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Review of Code of Conduct and Academic Standards: In the Code of Conduct and Academic Standards section of the university policy handbook, one example of an academic integrity violation, other than plagiarism, is cheating on exams or assignments. This could involve actions such as copying answers from another student during an exam, using unauthorized materials, or obtaining and sharing exam questions in advance. Such violations compromise the fairness and integrity of the learning process and undermine the evaluation of individual knowledge and skills.
A code of conduct violation could be bullying or harassment. This includes any behavior that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for others, whether it is done in person or through electronic means. An example could be a student consistently engaging in derogatory remarks, spreading rumors, or using offensive language towards a classmate. These standards are in place to ensure a safe and respectful learning environment where students can focus on their studies without fear of mistreatment or discrimination.
Definition and Causes of Plagiarism: Plagiarism refers to the act of presenting someone else’s ideas, words, or work as one’s own without giving proper credit or acknowledgment. It can include directly copying and pasting text from a source without quotation marks or citation, paraphrasing without appropriate attribution, or submitting someone else’s work as one’s own.
Students may plagiarize for various reasons, including:
Lack of understanding: Some students may not fully grasp the concept of plagiarism or the importance of academic integrity.
Time constraints: The pressure to meet deadlines can lead to shortcuts, such as copying and pasting information without proper citation.
Fear of failure: Students may believe that using others’ work will help them achieve better grades or avoid negative consequences.
Lack of effort: In some cases, students may plagiarize out of laziness or a lack of motivation to put in the necessary effort for their assignments.
Avoiding Academic Dishonesty in Group Work and as an Individual: To avoid academic dishonesty in group work, students should:
Establish clear communication: Set expectations and guidelines for collaboration, ensuring that everyone understands the importance of individual contributions and proper citation within the group.
Foster a culture of integrity: Encourage open discussions about academic honesty and the consequences of dishonest behavior within the group.
Practice accountability: Hold each other accountable for maintaining academic integrity by checking each other’s work and discussing any potential issues before submitting the final project.
As an individual, students can avoid academic dishonesty by:
Honoring originality: Ensure that all ideas and work presented are their own or properly attributed to the original source through appropriate citations.
Time management: Plan assignments ahead to allow sufficient time for research, writing, and proper citation practices.
Seek guidance: When in doubt about proper citation or use of sources, consult with professors, tutors, or university resources for clarification.
Holding Oneself and Peers Accountable: To uphold the GCU Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity standards, individuals can:
Lead by example: Demonstrate integrity in all academic endeavors and encourage others to do the same through personal conduct.
Engage in peer discussions: Encourage open conversations about ethical practices and the importance of upholding academic integrity within study groups or class discussions.
Report violations: If aware of any violations, inform professors or appropriate university authorities to ensure that necessary actions are taken.
Personal accountability involves self-reflection and a commitment to upholding ethical standards in all aspects of academic life. By actively embodying and promoting these standards, individuals contribute to a culture of integrity and respect within the university community.
