Create a PowerPoint presentation of 15-20 slides in which you introduce the setting of the Gospels, including what was happening in the world and in first century Palestine, the religious setting within Judaism, the daily life of people in Palestine, and the primary social values of the ancient world during New Testament times.
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
The Setting of the Gospels: Unveiling the Context of the New Testament
Introduction
Welcome to this presentation on the setting of the Gospels.
Today, we will explore the world and society in which the New Testament was written.
By understanding the historical and cultural background, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the messages and teachings within the Gospels.
1. The World in First Century Palestine
The Roman Empire: A powerful and dominant force in the ancient world.
Palestine: A small region within the Roman province of Judea.
Political climate: Under Roman rule, with Herod the Great as a puppet king.
2. Religious Setting within Judaism
Judaism: The dominant religion in first century Palestine.
Temple in Jerusalem: The center of Jewish religious life and worship.
Jewish sects: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.
3. Daily Life in Palestine
Agriculture: Predominant occupation, with farming and fishing as major industries.
Family structure: Patriarchal society, with extended families living together.
Housing: Simple dwellings, often made of stone or mud bricks.
4. Primary Social Values in the Ancient World
Honor and Shame: Society placed a high value on honor and avoiding shame.
Hierarchy: Clear social hierarchy based on wealth, status, and occupation.
Patronage: Relationship between patrons (wealthy individuals) and clients (those seeking assistance).
5. Conclusion
The setting of the Gospels provides crucial context for understanding their message.
By exploring the world, society, and values of first century Palestine, we can grasp the challenges faced by Jesus and his followers.
Let us delve into the Gospels with a renewed appreciation for the rich historical and cultural backdrop they emerge from.
References
Johnson, L.T., & Harrington, D.J. (2014). The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
Evans, C.A. (2012). The World of Jesus and the Early Church: Identity and Interpretation in Early Communities of Faith. Hendrickson Publishers.
