1. List some specific ways in which Christian values facilitate economic transactions. (Stapleford)
2. How are the spiritual life and the economic life of a community related? (Stapleford)
3. What is the best approach in addressing global poverty: Top Down or Bottom Up? Explain your answer. (Stapleford)
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
1. Christian Values in Economic Transactions
Christian values play a significant role in facilitating economic transactions by promoting honesty, integrity, and fairness in business dealings. Some specific ways in which Christian values influence economic transactions include:
– Ethical Conduct: Upholding Christian values encourages individuals to engage in honest and ethical practices in all transactions. This fosters trust among business partners and stakeholders, leading to long-term relationships.
– Stewardship: The concept of stewardship, derived from Christian teachings, emphasizes responsible management of resources. This mindset encourages individuals to make sustainable and socially responsible economic decisions.
– Fairness and Justice: Christian values advocate for treating others with fairness and justice. In economic transactions, this translates to ensuring fair wages, just pricing, and equitable distribution of resources.
– Compassion and Generosity: Christianity promotes compassion towards those in need and generosity in helping others. This can manifest in businesses supporting charitable causes, providing aid to the less fortunate, and practicing corporate social responsibility.
2. Relationship Between Spiritual Life and Economic Life
The spiritual life and economic life of a community are closely intertwined, influencing each other in various ways:
– Values and Ethics: Spiritual beliefs often shape the values and ethical principles that guide economic activities within a community. Shared spiritual values can foster a sense of unity, trust, and cooperation among individuals in economic endeavors.
– Motivation and Purpose: One’s spiritual beliefs can influence their motivations for economic pursuits. A community that values spiritual growth may prioritize meaningful work, social responsibility, and sustainable practices in economic activities.
– Community Well-being: The spiritual health of a community can impact its economic well-being and vice versa. Strong social bonds, support networks, and shared values cultivated through spiritual practices can contribute to economic resilience and prosperity.
– Social Justice: Many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of social justice and caring for the marginalized. This can lead communities to address economic inequalities, advocate for fair policies, and work towards inclusive economic development.
3. Addressing Global Poverty: Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Approach
The best approach in addressing global poverty often involves a combination of top-down and bottom-up strategies:
– Top-Down Approach: Top-down approaches involve government policies, international aid programs, and large-scale initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. These strategies can provide essential resources, infrastructure development, and systemic changes to address root causes of poverty on a macro level.
– Bottom-Up Approach: Bottom-up approaches focus on empowering local communities, promoting grassroots initiatives, and building capacity at the individual and community levels. These strategies emphasize education, skills training, microfinance opportunities, and community-led development projects.
Explanation: A holistic approach that combines top-down interventions with bottom-up empowerment is generally considered most effective in addressing global poverty. While top-down measures are crucial for systemic change and resource allocation, bottom-up initiatives empower individuals and communities to be active participants in their own development, leading to sustainable long-term solutions. Collaboration between governments, NGOs, businesses, and local communities is essential for comprehensive poverty alleviation efforts.
