After reading chapter 12, where do you stand on the use of residence restrictions and civil commitment policies? Please support your answer.
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
Position on the Use of Residence Restrictions and Civil Commitment Policies
After reading Chapter 12 and considering the complexities surrounding residence restrictions and civil commitment policies, I find myself in a position advocating for a cautious and balanced approach to their implementation. While these policies are designed to protect communities and manage individuals who pose a risk of harm, there are ethical, legal, and practical considerations that must be carefully evaluated.
Support for Residence Restrictions:
1. Community Safety: Residence restrictions can help create physical distance between individuals with a history of sexual offenses and places where children congregate, potentially reducing the risk of reoffending.
2. Public Perception: Implementing residence restrictions may address public concerns about the proximity of offenders to residential areas, schools, and other community spaces.
3. Legal Precedent: Some jurisdictions have established laws mandating residence restrictions for certain offenders, reflecting a legislative intent to prioritize community safety.
Critique of Residence Restrictions:
1. Effectiveness: Research on the efficacy of residence restrictions in preventing reoffending is mixed, with some studies suggesting limited impact on recidivism rates.
2. Stigmatization: Residence restrictions can contribute to the stigmatization and social isolation of individuals with criminal histories, potentially hindering their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
3. Constitutional Concerns: There are constitutional challenges related to the imposition of residency restrictions, including issues of due process, equal protection, and potential violations of individual rights.
Support for Civil Commitment Policies:
1. Risk Management: Civil commitment policies provide a mechanism for assessing and managing individuals deemed to present a high risk of reoffending or engaging in harmful behavior.
2. Treatment Opportunities: Civil commitment can offer access to specialized treatment programs and interventions designed to address underlying mental health issues or risk factors contributing to dangerous behavior.
3. Preventive Approach: By detaining individuals under civil commitment, authorities can proactively intervene to prevent future harm and protect both the individual and the community.
Critique of Civil Commitment Policies:
1. Civil Liberties: Civil commitment raises concerns about the infringement of individual rights, including issues related to due process, liberty interests, and the potential for indefinite detention without proper judicial oversight.
2. Treatment Efficacy: There are debates about the effectiveness of treatment programs within civil commitment facilities, with questions about the quality of care, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes for individuals undergoing involuntary commitment.
3. Reintegration Challenges: Individuals released from civil commitment may face challenges reintegrating into society, accessing support services, and overcoming the stigma associated with being labeled as a “dangerous” individual.
In conclusion, my stance on the use of residence restrictions and civil commitment policies is nuanced, recognizing the importance of balancing public safety concerns with individual rights and ethical considerations. Moving forward, it is essential to conduct further research, engage in ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, and develop evidence-based strategies that prioritize both community safety and the protection of civil liberties for all individuals involved.
