How might someone in your academic discipline or future vocation be able to live out a Christian missional purpose?
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
Living Out a Christian Missional Purpose in my Academic Discipline/Future Vocation
As a follower of Christ, living out a Christian missional purpose in my academic discipline or future vocation holds immense significance. Regardless of the specific field I pursue, there are several ways in which I can integrate my faith and demonstrate a missional purpose in my work. Here are a few ways I can accomplish this:
1. Demonstrating Excellence and Integrity
Excellence and integrity are foundational qualities for any Christian seeking to live out their faith in their academic discipline or future vocation. By striving for excellence in my work, I can bring glory to God and serve as a witness to those around me. By conducting research with integrity, adhering to ethical standards, and maintaining honesty in my interactions, I can reflect the character of Christ and demonstrate integrity in all aspects of my work.
2. Emphasizing Service and Compassion
A Christian missional purpose involves serving others and showing compassion, regardless of the academic discipline or vocation. Whether it is through offering assistance to colleagues, mentoring students, or engaging in community outreach programs related to my profession, I can prioritize service and compassion. By demonstrating love and care towards others, I can be a positive influence and exemplify the teachings of Christ in my academic or professional environment.
3. Engaging in Ethical Decision-Making
In every academic discipline or vocation, ethical decision-making plays a crucial role. As a Christian, I have a responsibility to uphold moral principles and make decisions that align with my faith. This involves carefully considering the impact of my actions on others, promoting justice and fairness, and standing up for what is right even when faced with difficult choices. By consistently practicing ethical decision-making, I can demonstrate my commitment to living out a Christian missional purpose.
4. Fostering Inclusion and Diversity
Inclusivity and diversity are important aspects of living out a Christian missional purpose within any academic discipline or future vocation. By actively promoting an environment that values and respects individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives, I can contribute to building a more inclusive community. This includes actively seeking out opportunities to learn from others, embracing diversity in research or projects, and advocating for equal opportunities for all.
5. Sharing the Gospel through Actions and Words
Living out a Christian missional purpose also involves sharing the gospel with others. While respecting professional boundaries and maintaining appropriate conduct, there are opportunities to share my faith through actions and words. This can be done by demonstrating humility, kindness, and grace in interactions with colleagues or clients. Additionally, being open to conversations about faith when appropriate and sharing personal testimonies can be powerful ways to express the transformative power of Christ in my life.
Conclusion
Living out a Christian missional purpose in my academic discipline or future vocation involves integrating my faith into every aspect of my work. By demonstrating excellence and integrity, emphasizing service and compassion, engaging in ethical decision-making, fostering inclusion and diversity, and sharing the gospel through actions and words, I can strive to make a positive impact and bring glory to God in my chosen field. Through these intentional efforts, I can fulfill my calling as a follower of Christ and contribute meaningfully to both academia and society as a whole.
