Discuss the relationship between Colossians 3:23-24 and the implementation of a total quality management system.
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
Relationship Between Colossians 3:23-24 and Total Quality Management System
Colossians 3:23-24 states, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” This biblical passage emphasizes the importance of wholehearted dedication and commitment to one’s work, considering it as service to a higher purpose.
When we draw parallels between Colossians 3:23-24 and the implementation of a Total Quality Management (TQM) system in an organizational context, we can identify several key connections:
1) Commitment to Excellence
Just as Colossians encourages working with all your heart, TQM emphasizes a commitment to excellence in all aspects of an organization’s operations. TQM principles focus on continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee involvement to achieve high-quality outcomes. By aligning work efforts with the values of Colossians, organizations can instill a culture of excellence and dedication among employees.
2) Service-Oriented Mindset
Colossians highlights the idea of working not for human masters but for the Lord, emphasizing a service-oriented mindset. Similarly, TQM promotes a customer-centric approach where organizations strive to deliver products or services that exceed customer expectations. By viewing their work as a form of service to both internal and external stakeholders, employees can embody the principles of TQM and prioritize quality and customer satisfaction in all endeavors.
3) Intrinsic Motivation
The passage from Colossians underscores the concept of working for a greater reward beyond earthly recognition. In the context of TQM implementation, fostering intrinsic motivation among employees is essential for driving continuous improvement and innovation. By recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions to quality initiatives, organizations can reinforce a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their work, aligning with the spiritual principles highlighted in Colossians.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the relationship between Colossians 3:23-24 and the implementation of a Total Quality Management system lies in the shared values of commitment, service, and intrinsic motivation. By integrating the spiritual principles advocated in Colossians with the principles of TQM, organizations can create a workplace culture that prioritizes excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement, ultimately leading to sustainable success and fulfillment in both professional and spiritual dimensions.
