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Full-Text Articles in Religion
Freely Bound - The Free Will Arguments Of Boethius And Martin Luther, Joshua Sullivan
Freely Bound - The Free Will Arguments Of Boethius And Martin Luther, Joshua Sullivan
Global Tides
The concept of free will has long puzzled philosophers and theologians alike. This notion exists on a spectrum. Proponents of an entirely free will occupy one end, asserting that man can make choices utterly independent of any external factors, while advocates of determinism reside on the other end, arguing choices are entirely dependent on biological, subconscious, or external metaphysical causes. This paper investigates the free will claims of two early Christian theologians, Boethius, a 6th-century Roman senator and philosopher, and Martin Luther, father of the protestant faith. By analyzing and contrasting these theologians’ rival claims, a deeper understanding of the …
A Question Of Sin And Responsibility: Exploring Innocence In Dante, Cassandra Stephenson
A Question Of Sin And Responsibility: Exploring Innocence In Dante, Cassandra Stephenson
Global Tides
Dante’s use of the word innocent—referring to infants who died soon after birth—presents a unique perspective on the spiritual hierarchy of The Divine Comedy. Though labeled as innocent, Dante’s infants are nonetheless excluded from Paradise. Concurrent mentions of innocence and original sin raise the question of the meaning of Dante’s innocence and its implications on the concepts of true choice, merit, and ignorance. These combined factors determine infants’ placement in Limbo or just below Paradise, and they help further a complete understanding of Dante’s theology and work as a whole.