Comparative essay describing the differences and similarities between Christian art and Islamic art
Select the main points about each religion and how it influenced and played a role in the creation of art in all its forms.
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
Comparative Essay: Christian Art and Islamic Art
Art has always been a powerful medium for expressing religious beliefs and cultural values. Christianity and Islam, two major world religions, have produced extraordinary artistic traditions. Although both Christian art and Islamic art emerged from distinct religious and cultural backgrounds, they share similarities and differences that are worth exploring. This essay will compare and contrast Christian art and Islamic art, focusing on the main points about each religion and how they influenced and played a role in the creation of art in all its forms.
One of the key differences between Christian art and Islamic art lies in their theological foundations and spiritual symbolism. Christianity places a significant emphasis on depicting the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as narratives from the Bible. Christian art, therefore, beautifully portrays scenes from the life of Christ, such as the Nativity, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. Moreover, Christian art incorporates a rich symbolism that represents spiritual truths and biblical concepts. Symbols like the cross, peacock, and lamb are frequently used in Christian art to convey religious messages and inspire devotion.
On the other hand, Islamic art primarily focuses on calligraphy and geometric patterns rather than human or animal imagery. This is due to the influence of Islamic teachings on the prohibition of idol worship. The Quran and Islamic calligraphy play a central role in Islamic art, as the written word is considered a direct link to the divine. Calligraphy in Islamic art is not merely decorative but serves as a powerful tool for communicating the sacred text. Geometric patterns, such as the beautiful arabesque motifs, are also prominent in Islamic art, symbolizing the infinite nature of Allah and the order and harmony of the universe.
Despite these differences, both Christian art and Islamic art share common themes and concepts. Both traditions strive to evoke a sense of awe, reverence, and spirituality. They embody the faith of their respective followers and provide a visual means to connect with the divine. Furthermore, both Christian art and Islamic art have developed unique art forms over time. Christian art has witnessed the evolution of various artistic styles, from Byzantine icons to Renaissance masterpieces, while Islamic art has given birth to intricate architectural marvels like mosques, palaces, and mausoleums.
Historical and cultural influences have played a significant role in shaping the art of Christianity and Islam. For instance, the Byzantine Empire, with its fusion of Greco-Roman art and Christian theology, greatly influenced the early development of Christian art. The use of icons and mosaics as devotional objects emerged from this tradition. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, different regional styles emerged, ranging from Gothic art in France to Romanesque art in Spain. Each of these styles reflected the cultural and societal characteristics of the regions in which they flourished.
Similarly, Islamic art has been shaped by the historical conquests and cultural exchanges of the Islamic world. The artistic traditions of Persia, Byzantium, and India greatly impacted Islamic art. Persian miniature painting and calligraphy merged with the central Islamic artistic style to create unique art forms like illuminated manuscripts and miniature Qurans. The architectural style of the Islamic world also saw a fusion of various cultural influences, resulting in the creation of iconic structures like the Alhambra in Spain and the Taj Mahal in India.
In conclusion, Christian art and Islamic art carry distinct characteristics and motifs that reflect their theological foundations and cultural backgrounds. Christian art emphasizes the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and incorporates rich symbolism, whereas Islamic art focuses on calligraphy and geometric patterns due to the prohibition of idol worship. Despite these differences, both traditions strive to evoke a sense of reverence and connect their followers with the divine. Christian art and Islamic art have been shaped by historical and cultural influences and have created unique art forms that continue to captivate audiences to this day.
Citations:
1. Grabar, Oleg. “Islamic art and spirituality.” Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion 2, no. 2 (1998): 155-165.
2. Lewis, Bernard. “Islamic culture and religious change: the case of religious art and architecture.” Daedalus 102, no. 1 (1973): 95-118.
3. Evans, Helen C. “Christian art.” In The Cambridge Illustrated History of Religions, pp. 464-493. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
4. Bloom, Jonathan M. “The Art of Islam.” In The Blackwell Companion to Islamic Studies, pp. 109-126. Wiley-Blackwell, 2019.
